LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 



Shelf M'M* 
LS^- 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE "CITY GUARD" 



A HISTORY 

OF 

COMPANY "B" 

First Regiment Infantry, N. G. C. 



DURING THE SACRAMENTO CAMPAIGN 

July 3 to 26, 1S94 



a brief history of the company since its organization 
March 31, 1854, to July 3, 1894 



A -^ 29 1895 



FILMER-ROLLINS ELECTROTYPE CO. 

Typographers, Electrotypers and Stereotypers 

424 sansome st., san francisco 






Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1895, 

By Company B, "City Guard," 1st Reg. Inft , N. G. C, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



To the members of the "City Guard/' past, present, and to 

come, this, our Company's maiden effort, is 

respectfully dedicated. 



CONTENTS. 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER I. page 

The Cause, ... - 9 

CHAPTER II. 
The National Guard Called Out, - - - 15 

CHAPTER III. 
Fourth of July at Sacramento, • 29 

CHAPTER IV. 
Camp on the Capitol Grounds, - - - 42 

CHAPTER V. 

The Vigilantes at the Capitol Grounds, ... 68 

CHAPTER VI. 
General Effects of the Strike, - - - 83 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Appearance of the Regulars and Its Effect Upon the Situation, 93 

CHAPTER VIII. 
The First Regiment at Ninth and D Streets, - - 128 

CHAPTER IX. 
The American River Bridge, ----- 156 

CHAPTER X. 

Off for Truckee. ------ 172 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPANY. 

CHAPTER I. 

" San Francisco City Guard," - 219 

CHAPTER II. 
" Independent City Guard," .... 224 

CHAPTER III. 
" City Guard " from 1860 to 1870, - 229 

CHAPTER IV. 
From 1870 to 1880, - . _ 237 

CHAPTER V. 
From 1880 to 1894, - - - - - 244 

CHAPTER VI. 
Forty-one Years' Target Practice, - - 252 



PREFACE. 



On September 1, 1894, shortly after the return of the com- 
pany from its campaign at Sacramento, a committee of four 
was appointed, to be known as the history committee, to gather 
as much material concerning that campaign as possible, and 
to put it in a readable and concise form. The following were 
appointed: Lieutenant George Filmer, Corporal A. McCulloch, 
Privates W. J. Hayes and Wm. D. O'Brien. 

The committee began its work enthusiastically and at once, 
as they believed that the most beneficial results could be 
attained by " striking while the iron is hot." Their progress 
was necessarily slow; but when taken in connection with the 
circumstances, that the committee were engaged in earning 
their livelihood during the day, and thus limited in their work 
upon the history to their spare moments, and further, that 
they also took great care to prevent inaccuracies from creep- 
ing into their labors, the progress made, when viewed in this 
light, cannot be said to be unusually slow. 

The idea of publishing a history was not an original idea, 
but rather it is the result of the gradual development of an 
incipient idea by a process of evolution containing three dis- 
tinct steps. First it was only intended to have a short account 
written of the campaign and pasted in the company's scrap- 
book; then, with this as a basis, the idea developed into the 
form of a printed pamphlet, and finally blossomed into the 
shape in which it now appears. 

It was the intention of the committee to have the entire 
book set up by members of the company who were compos- 
itors by trade, and who had kindly volunteered their services. 
But, on account of the limited time that the volunteer com- 
positors could bestow upon the work, it was found necessary, 
after about one-half the book had been thus set up, to give the 



work to an outside publishing house, in order to present to 
the company a complete history of the campaign before the 
memory of this memorable event would be beyond the " time 
of which the mind of man doth not run." And even though 
the members of the company were unable, through no fault 
of their own, to set up the entire work, the committee desires 
to acknowledge its appreciation of the kindness and the valu- 
able assistance given by these members, viz: George Claus- 
senius, W. L. Overstreet, Win. McKaig, J. Brien, and R. E. 
Wilson. 

The committee further desires to thank Lieutenant Hosmer, 
Adjutant First Battalion, First Regiment Infantry, N. G. C, 
and Sergeant H. B. Sullivan, "of ours," for the kind assist- 
ance they rendered the committee in making negatives of each 
tent crowd of the company. 

It may be well here to mention the fact that at the request 
of the committee, Captain I. B. Cook consented to write the 
brief history of the Company. For this work and the thor- 
oughness with which it is done, the committee extend to him 
its sincere thanks. 

The committee do not pretend to uphold the book as a 
work of any great literary merit; and, while they do not pro- 
pose to offer any excuses for the book, still they hope at least 
that it is free from any obvious signs of crudity or provincial- 
ism: it stands upon its own merits. 

The work is largely of a personal nature, and, as such, has 
made the introduction of personalities unavoidable; but while 
this is so, the committee have tried to eliminate every thing 
of such a character which, in their judgment, would offend 
the most sensitive nature. In case, however, their judgment 
has erred at times, and things do appear which wound the 
feelings of some, the committee trust that the attempted witti- 
cism, for it is nothing more, will be received in the same 
spirit that it is offered, namely "peace, goodwill to all." 

In judging the results of their labor the committee beg 
that those judging will say, in the words of Miss Muloch: 
" Not that they did ill or well, 
But only that they did their best." 



THE CAUSE (?; 

CHAPTER I. 



THE STRIKE AND ITS EFFECT. 



iSj^S the tiny stream that wends its course down the 
mountain slope on the way to the sea grows gradu- 
ally larger and deeper by the successive uniting with 
it of similar streams until at last it becomes the mighty 
river in which its identity is completely lost, so a small 
I labor movement springing up in a little town named 
Pullman in the vicinity of Chicago, and spreading out west- 
ward and southward, became larger and greater at each suc- 
cessive juncture with it of the employees of the railroad until 
at last, when its progress was stopped by the cool waves of the 
Pacific, it had grown to be a movement of gigantic propor- 
tions, stupendous in its effects, in which the primal cause of 
the movement was lost. California was particularly affected. 
Never before in the history of the State had she experienced 
such a movement as this. Traffic was completely stopped. 
Business was paralyzed. Goods could neither be received nor 
sent away. Merchants were laying off their employees and 
getting ready to close up their houses. Not a wheel of the 
Southern Pacific Company was turning in the State. 

This movement had its source in a disagreement between 
the managers and the employees of the Pullman Car Manu- 
facturing Company. By successive reductions the wages of 
the employees had become greatly reduced, far below that 
which the existing condition of affairs would seem to justify. 



10 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

This, considered with certain other circumstances, caused a 
great deal of dissatisfaction among the men of the works. 
The accompanying circumstances, which served to intensify 
the dissatisfaction, were of a nature peculiar to the town of 
Pullman itself. A fair estimate would place the inhabitants 
of this town at about four thousand, all of whom are directly 
or indirectly dependent for subsistence upon the Pullman Car 
Manufacturing Company. Not only are they connected with 
the company by bond of employer and employee, but also are 
they related as landlord and tenant, and as creditor and debtor. 
Pullman has been nicknamed "the model town." But there 
is more than one way of looking at this model town, just as 
there is more than one way of looking at a model jail. To a 
man like Carlyle, who had no sympathy for transgressors of 
the law, a jail like the famous Cherry Hill prison of Pennsyl- 
vania would be a model jail; for here a prisoner is confined 
in a single cell for the entire term of his confinement, with 
no other occupation than that of picking jute. But to the 
prisoner himself who is incarcerated there, it is a model jail, 
where he " who once enters leaves all hope behind." So 
with the town of Pullman. To the stockholders of the Pull- 
man Car Manufacturing Company, who see in its organization 
innumerable opportunities for enriching themselves at the 
expense of the workman, it is a model town. But to the poor 
employees, who encounter at every turn the grasping hand of 
the monopoly, it is a model town symbolical of all that char- 
acterizes slavery. In the hands of the Pullman Car Manu- 
facturing Company resides the entire property of the town. 
They not only own the water and gas works, and the houses, 
but also sell to their employees the very necessities of life. 
All the inhabitants of the town are tenants; none are free- 
holders. From this it is easy to imagine the situation when 
a large cut was made in the wages. The corporation, you 
may be sure, never thought of making a corresponding reduc- 
tion in the rent of the houses, or in the water and gas rates, 
or in the price of food. With greatly reduced wages, reduced 
to considerably less than what the artisans engaged in similar 
crafts were getting in the adjacent municipality of Chicago, 
and with rents and water, and gas rates correspondingly 
higher, the Pullman Car Manufacturing Company expected 
its employees to adjust themselves to the new condition of 
affairs. The chasm, however, was altogether too wide to be 
bridged. The men were compelled by the force of necessity 
to resist the reduction. 



ITS EFFECTS. 11 

About the beginning of May, 1894, a committee of thirty- 
nine, representing every department in the works, waited 
upon Mr. Pullman, president of the company, and laid the 
case before him. They asked that the old rates, which were 
one-third higher than the present rates, be re-established. 
In spite of the fact, that at about the time the committee 
waited upon Mr. Pullman the company was paying large 
dividends, and had an enormous reserve fund, and further 
still, in spite of the fact, that Mr. Pullman had enough of 
spare cash to donate one hundred thousand dollars to a 
church, the petition was denied. The plea given was, that 
the state of business would not stand the increase of wages. 
The matter did not stoj3 here. The car company was very 
indignant at the apparent intrusion of the workmen into the 
affairs of their business. How dare employees suggest to 
them how they shall conduct their business. The outcome 
of it was, that the men who formed the committee were indi- 
vidually discharged from their service. This was the straw 
that broke the camel's back. The entire body of workmen 
struck. This was the direct strike. 

A new element now enters into the strike. The employees 
of the Pullman Car Manufacturing Company, as a body, were 
affiliated with an organization known as the American Rail- 
way Union. The constitution of this latter organization was 
of such an elastic character as to be capable of being stretched 
so far as to include not only those who worked for the rail- 
road proper, but also all who were employed upon any kind 
of railroad work whatsoever. The strike was referred by the 
workmen of Pullman to this higher body for settlement. The 
American Railway Union investigated the grievances of the 
men, and concluded that the strike was a just one; one worthy 
of their support. On June 23d, after having tried for a 
period of six weeks to adjust the difficulties between the men 
and their employers without success, the Executive Board of 
the Union gave notice to the Pullman Car Manufacturing 
Company, that, unless they agreed to the terms of settle- 
ment by the 27th of June, a boycott would be placed upon 
all Pullman cars. In other words the members of the union 
would refuse to handle any trains to which were attached 
Pullman cars. The 27th of June coming around with no 
signs of compliance on the part of the Pullman Company 
the threat of the union was put into execution. The entire 
Santa Fe System, comprising about seventeen different lines 



12 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

and operating throughout that part of the country southward 
of Chicago to the Gulf and westward to the Pacific, was 
affected. This new phase of the strike, known as the sym- 
pathetic strike, was destined to be the greatest labor move- 
ment that America had ever experienced. 

This is the method by which the American Railway Union 
undertook to bring the Pullman corporation to terms. In 
their letter to the public they stated that it was not their 
intention to tie up the railroads. They were willing to handle 
trains, provided Pullman cars were left off. This was, they 
said, the only means they had of striking the Pullman Car 
Manufacturing Company. In case a quarrel arose between 
them and the railroad companies it would be a quarrel that 
was forced upon them, and not one of their choosing. The 
railroad companies, on the other hand, were unable to sepa- 
rate their interests from the interests of the Pullman Car 
Manufacturing Company, so they took the quarrel upon their 
own shoulders. They were determined to send trains out 
with Pullman cars attached, or else they would not send 
any at all. On the 27th of June, the day that the boycott 
was placed upon Pullman cars, traffic over the entire Santa 
Fe system came to a standstill. The railroad employees, that 
is, those employees who were engaged in the strike — the fire- 
men, switchtenders and switchmen — refused to move trains 
with Pullman cars attached, and the railroad companies 
refused to send out trains without them. And so began the 
sympathetic strike. 

Every State, in which the lines of the above-mentioned sys- 
tem operated, was severely affected. In the East the unique 
position held by Chicago with regard to the different lines of 
railroads made it the hotbed of the strike. Seventeen dif- 
ferent lines meet in Chicago. These being tied up, Chicago 
became the congregrating point for many thousand strikers, 
some of whom were exceedingly desperate characters. Chi- 
cago, in the course of the strike, was the scene of many ag- 
gressive operations, and numerous were the conflicts between 
the troops and strikers, of which some resulted in fatalities. 
In the West the strike presented some features which were 
not manifested in the East. No State suffered more severely 
from the strike than did California. That the effect was so 
severe on California was due probably to its isolation; to its 
entire dependence upon railroad transportation, and to the fact 
that a great part of its produce consisted of fruit, which has 



ITS EFFECTS. 13 

to find a ready market in the East. These facts, coupled with 
the fact that the tie-up came at that time in the year when 
the fruit was ripe and ready for shipping, and thus depend- 
ant upon rapid transportation for its value, are evidence 
enough of the injurious effects of the strike upon California. 
And yet, in spite of the ruinous consequences, it is strange to 
say that the sympathy of the people was almost unanimously 
with the strikers. The press of California has been severely 
criticised by the Eastern press for the manner in which it 
espoused the cause of the strikers. Yet the California press 
was only reflecting the opinions of the people. 

The first scene of act one of the strike in California took 
place on the 27th of June. The overland trains, which are 
the only trains that carry Pullman cars with the exception of 
the Yosemite, did not leave the Oakland mole that day as 
usual. Throughout the 27th and part of the 28th all other 
trains ran as usual. But on the 28th President Debs of the 
American Railway Union telegraphed from Chicago to the 
heads of the local unions to tie up the entire Southern Pacific 
Company. The strike now began to operate in California 
with full force. 

In such railroad centers of California as Los Angeles, Oak- 
land, and Sacramento the strike assumed threatening aspects. 
In Sacramento the aspect was particularly alarming. Los 
Angeles and Sacramento are the two controlling centers for 
all lines that leave the State. The strike in neither Los 
Angeles nor Oakland reached the importance or received the 
attention that it did in Sacramento. This was due to the fact 
that in Los Angeles it was brought under control before it 
gained much headway. While in Oakland, though Oakland 
was invested by a large number of strikers who managed to 
do a good deal of mischief and damage, such as cutting the 
air-brakes on freight trains, and even going so far as to stop 
the entire local system, thus compelling the residents bf the 
bay towns to resort to a provisional ferry; yet even while 
they did all this, it made little practical difference to the out- 
come of the strike whether the strikers reigned there or not 
as long as Sacramento or Los Angeles remained under their 
control. Sacramento and Los Angeles therefore were the 
backbone of the strike in California. 

As the time wore on a peaceful settlement of the strike 
seemed to grow less. The railroad company, on the one 
hand, was determined not to yield. The strikers, on the 



14 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

other hand, were getting impatient and angry at the rigid- 
ness of the railroad officials, and with this, growing more con- 
scions of their power, seemed ready to set aside all legal 
restraints and resort to violent deeds to force an acquiescence to 
their will. Sacramento, where the strikers held forth in full 
sway, was the point toward which the attention of the people 
was directed. Speculation became rife as to what would be 
the outcome. That things could not continue in such a state 
much longer was universally conceded. The seriousness of 
the affair, however, kept rolling on. Complaints of people 
tied up at the different places in the State were increasing 
every day. Baggage and freight was accumulating with 
wondrous rapidity. Delayed mail — and here is where the 
strikers came in conflict with Uncle Sam — was piling up on 
every hand. It was only a question of time when the dam 
would break. 

It was on June 29th that the first rumors were heard 
about calling out the State troops. A situation like this 
cannot fail to be other than closely related to the life of the 
National Guard. While California had been hitherto prac- 
tically free from movements of this kind the Eastern States 
had not been so fortunate. It seems next to an impossibility 
for a railroad strike of any size to occur without its being 
accompanied by violence and crime. Time after time had 
the Eastern National Guard been called out to suppress 
strikers, who had finally deteriorated into rioters. The one 
seemed to follow the other as effect follows cause. As soon as 
a strike was inaugurated the people of the East looked for 
the effect, namely the calling out of the National Guard. 
This mode of thinking influenced the thought of California. 
The people now began to look to the State troops. The mem- 
bers of the National Guard were especially interested in the 
situation, for when they joined they little thought that they 
would be called upon to face any real danger. A sham bat- 
tle at camp was about as near as they ever expected to get to 
an actual engagement. But as things began to look serious, 
their interest in affairs grew in intensity. "Great Heavens! 
we might be called out." So they anxiously awaited further 
developments. 




CHAPTER II. 

THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED OUT. 
IS§F 

MY: X July 1st Uncle Sam took a hand in the game. 
^Mip Attorney General Olney sent instruction to the United 
States district marshals, whose jurisdiction was over 
that territory affected by the strike, to execute the pro 
cess of the court, and prevent any hinderance to the free 
circulation of the mails. In accordance with these orders 
the United States marshal of the Southern District of California 
called upon General Ruger, commander of the western division 
of the Regular Army to furnish assistance at Los Angeles. Six 
companies, three hundred and twenty men, under the com- 
mand of Colonel Shafter, were dispatched on July 2d for this 
place. They left San Francisco on the 10:30 p. m. train. To 
act in conjunction with the Regular Troops, Barry Baldwin, 
United States Marshal for the Northern District of California 
was at Sacramento with a large number of deputy United 
States marshals, sworn in for the occasion. The plan was 
to break, almost simultaneously, the blockade at these two 
places. The regulars experienced but little difficulty at Los 
Angeles. Not so, however, with the United States marshal 
and his deputies at Sacramento. The mob of strikers here 
was larger, more desperate, and better organized than at 
any other place in the State. On the afternoon of the 
3d of July Baldwin attempted to open up the blockade. The 
operation of making-up the trains was calmly watched by the 



lb THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

strikers. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, when all 
of a sadden at a given signal the strikers rushed forward, and 
in a few minutes demolished what had been the result of sev- 
eral hours labor. At this the wrath of Marshal Baldwin 
knew no bounds. He attempted to force his way through 
the strikers, but was thrown several times to the ground. 
Regaining his feet after one of these falls he drew a revolver; 
but, before he could use it, he was seized and disarmed, and, 
were it not for the presence there of some cool heads, would 
have been severely handled. The marshal seeing the hope- 
lessness of the situation withdrew, leaving the depot in pos- 
session of the strikers. That very afternoon, however, he 
called upon Govenor Markham for military assistance to aid 
him in forcing and maintaining a free passage for the mails. 
In response to this call Major General Dimond of the National 
Guard of California was ordered to furnish the necessary 
assistance, using his discretion as to the number of men re- 
quired. It was deemed advisable to call out a large force, as 
the experience of the Eastern militia in strike troubles showed 
that the display of a large force had a salutary effect. The 
following troops were ordered out: Of the Second Brigade, 
commanded by Brigadier General Dickinson, the First Regi- 
ment Infantry, under the command of Colonel Sullivan, the 
Third Regiment Infantry, Colonel Barry commanding; one- 
half of the Signal Corps, under the command of Captain 
Hanks, and a section of the Light Battery, consisting of Lieu- 
tenant Holcombe, twelve men and a Gatling gun; of the Third 
Brigade, Companies A and B of the Sixth Regiment, under 
the command of Colonel Nunan; of the Fourth Brigade, 
commanded by Brigadier General Sheehan, Companies A, E, 
and G; of the Second Infantry Regiment, Colonel Guthrie 
commanding, the Signal Corps and Light Battery B. In all 
about one thousand men. The following troops were ordered 
to hold themselves in readiness: The Fifth Regiment In- 
fantry, Colonel Fairbanks commanding, consisting of two com- 
panies in Oakland, one in Alameda, one in San Rafael, one in 
Petaluma, one in Santa Rosa, and one in San Jose; the Sec- 
ond Artillery Regiment, Colonel Macdonald commanding, and 
the First Troop Cavalry, commanded by Captain Blumenberg. 
The San Francisco troops were ordered to be ready to leave 
that evening. Companies A and B of Stockton, under com- 
mand of Colonel Nunan, were ordered to be ready to join the 
San Francisco troops as they passed through Stockton the 



THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED OUT. 17 

following morning. The Sacramento troops were to join the 
main body upon their arrival at the Capital City. 

Colonel Sullivan received orders to assemble his troops 
at about 5:35 p. m. Colonel Barry was notified a little later. 
Both proceeded immediately to carry out their orders. The 
calling out of the troops had been anticipated by the officers 
of the National Guard. On Monday evening, July 2d, Colonel 
Sullivan called a meeting of the company commanding officers 
and arranged with them a plan that would insure the effective 
and rapid massing of the troops. The plan was this: The roll 
of each company was to be divided up into squads and a non- 
commissioned officer assigned to each squad, whose duty it 
would be, in case it became necessary, to see that the mem- 
bers of that squad were notified. Experience proved that 
the plan was exceedingly effective. Captain Cook lost no time 
in applying it to Company B. On the very same night he 
assembled the non-commissioned officers of the company, and 
assigned a squad of the company to each. Further, each 
non-commissioned officer, for the purpose of expediency, was 
given the following pre-emptory order: 

" San Francisco, July 3d, 1894. 

" Company Orders No. 8. 

" You are hereby commanded to report at 
your armory immediately in service uniform upon reading 
this order. Bring your blankets, suit of underclothing, and 
two days' rations to pack in your knapsack. Report without 
fail. Let B Company be the first in line for suppressing riot. 

Irving B. Cook, Commanding Company." 

This was the plan by which the company was to be massed 
at short notice When the time came to test its effectiveness 
it had been so well applied to the company that it was like 
pressing the button and the entire machinery started in 
motion. Within an incredible short space of time after Cap- 
tain Cook received orders to assemble his company, non- 
commissioned officers in charge of squads were speeding on 
their respective missions of notification. Many members, 
hearing that the militia were called out, reported without 
receiving any official notice. Company B was not the only 
company, nor was the First Regiment the only regiment, that 
had taken time by the forelock and laid plans for the rapid 
massing of their men. Subsequent developments showed that 



18 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

arrangements had been made beforehand in all the companies 
of both regiments and that these arrangments had well fulfilled 
their end. 

Thus far we have but considered one end of the action. 
Let us therefore transfer ourselves to the other end, namely 
the thresholds of the homes of the members. Here scenes 
occurred the memory and influence of which will never be for- 
gotten. What a feeling of gloom and of sadness settled upon that 
household after the notifying officer had hurried up the steps, 
rang violently the door-bell and notified him, who was both a 
member of the family and a member of the National Guard, 
to report for duty at the armory. We may now talk lightly 
of the things we have done. We may now laugh heartily 
over the experiences of those campaigns. The public may 
sneer at the results which we have accomplished, but who could 
say on the night we were called out that the duty which we were 
ordered to perform was not such that we had no assurance 
of ever returning again to the bosom of our families. Is 
there a man who would speak lightly of the tear that glistened 
in the mother's eye or the quivering of her lips? Who is 
there that would ridicule the sobbing of the sisters and of 
the wives, or sneer at the deep, heartfelt emotion of the 
father hidden beneath a gruff voice. Shame on him who 
has for these no thought but scorn ! " Parting is such sweet 
sorrow," the poet sings. Until the night of the 3d few of 
us however recognized this truth. Parting is sorrow, but ah! 
how sweet it is to know something of that great affection with 
which we are held. Thank God there come such times as these 
when the mist of humdrum life is lifted and we behold our 
position in the hearts of our family. 

Many of us still remember how, while in our boyhood 
days, our souls used to thrill and how inspired we were when 
we read that after the battle of Lexington, old Israel Putnam 
left his plow yoked in the fields, mounted his fastest horse, 
hurried to Boston and offered his services to his country. 
But when we left those happy days behind us and went out 
into the cold, prosaic, and selfish world, and thought of Put- 
nam's noble and inspiring patriotism, a feeling of regret 
would arise within us to feel that there were no more Put- 
nams. But during the late excitement we were undeceived. 
Right here among us we have such patriots. Patriots whose 
example ought to inspire and thrill every citizen. Like Old 
Putnam, they also paused in the midst of their toil and, 



THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED OUT. 19 

without waiting to be notified, hastened to offer their services 
to their State. AVould that the grave could open up, so that 
Old Putnam might rest contented in the belief that the 
destinies of this Republic are presided over by young 
patriots worthy of their revolutionary sires. 

To come back to the First Regiment Armory again. 
Throughout the evening it presented both inside and out an 
animated appearance. Fully five hundred people were gath- 
ered in front of the armory watching the course of devel- 
opments. Inside of the armory men were hastening to 
and fro. Others were gathered into groups talking in an 
excited tone over the unusual event. In Company B's rooms 
members were busily packing their knapsacks, rolling their 
blankets, and getting into their uniforms. Every now and 
again some member who was notified late in the evening 
would come running in and endeavor to make up for lost 
time. The experience of being called out was to them a 
novel one. Whoever thought that they — the National Guard, 
the " tin soldiers" — would ever be called upon to do anything 
more arduous or dangerous than to parade the streets on a 
holiday for the sake of eliciting admiration from the fair 
sex. Here was an opportunity for them of a lifetime to dis- 
solve forever the charge of the contemptuous wretch, who 
stands upon the edge of the sidewalk during a parade of the 
National Guard and sneeringly remarks: " If they only smelt 
powder, how they would run." Every member of the Guard 
determined that they would on this occasion establish a repu- 
tation far beyond the possibility of ever being open to the 
charge of being " sidewalk soldiers" again. They would — 
and many a noble resolve was made that night. To those 
standing upon the street watching the preparations of the 
militia to depart and who derisively jeered, the men said 
nothing, but to themselves said: "You just wait a few days my 
fine fellows and we will show you what we can do." But alas, 
who can ever tell what the wheels of time will bring forth. 
At the same time everyone was more or less excited. Some 
were gay, others were thoughtful, and again some probably 
felt a peculiar sadness, feeling perhaps as though they were 
taking their last leave of those persons and things which 
were closely associated with their lives. Even the turning of 
the key of their locker was done with tenderness. For who 
knew that this would not be the last time. All, however, 
w r ere ready for orders. 



20 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



At 9:40 p. m. the command was given to "fall in." Com- 
pany B proceeded to the drill-hall, where they were formed 
by First Sergeant A. F. Ramm. On roll-call the following 
men answered to their names: 



Captain I. B. Cook. Private Hayes, 


1st Lieut. E. C. Lundquist, 


Heeth, A., 


2d Lieut. Geo. Filmer. 


' Heizman, 


1st Sergt. A. F. Ramm. 


' Kennedy, 
' Keane, 


Sergt. B. B. Sturdivant, , 
" A. H. Clifford, 


' Lang, 

' Monahan, 


" W. N. Kelly. 


' McKaig, 


Corp. J. N. Wilson, < 


O'Brien, 


" B. E. Burdick, « 


' Overstreet, 


" E. R. Burtis, « 


Perry, 


" A. McCulloeh. 


' Powleson, 


Musician Gilkyson, ■ 


Radke, R., 


" Murphy, ' 


Radke, G., 


" Rupp, « 


Sullivan, H. B. 


" Wilson. < 


' Stealy, 


Private Adams, 


' Sieberst, V. 


" Ban nan, 


Shula, F., 


" Baumgartner, 


' Sindler, 


" Claussenius, G., 


Tooker, 


" Claussenius, M., 


' Unger, 


" Crowley, 


' Wise, 


" Flanagan, 


Wilson, R. E., 


" Freeh, 


' Williams, 


" Fetz, A., 


' Warren, 


Gille, 


' Wear, 


Gehret, A. C, 


' Zimmerman. 



Upon the completion of the roll-call the company was 
turned over to the command of Captain Cook. In five min- 
utes the entire regiment was mustered and formed in a hollow 
square. The size of the companies spoke volumes for the 
reputation of the regiment. It was now a little over three 
hours since the non-commissioned officers started on their 
tours of notification, and probably not more than an hour 
since some of the members were notified; still, here was 
almost the full regiment, thirty officers and three hundred 
and forty-six men, prepared to march. The zeal and alacrity 
with which the orders were obeyed is worthy of commenda- 
tion. The men as they stood in ranks, attired in their 
campaign uniforms, their knapsacks and blankets strapped 



THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED OUT. 21 

to their backs, presented a striking appearance. May their 
appearance that night never fade from our memories. Col- 
onel Sullivan stepped into the center of the square and made 
the following remarks: 

" Men, we have been ordered to Sacramento to preserve the 
peace and dignity of the State. This is not a picnic trip; it 
is a serious duty. I have confidence that every man will do 
his full duty. I hope that our members will impress the 
enemy with the fact that we mean business, and I hope that 
no other recourse will be necessary. But if it becomes neces- 
sary to give orders to use ball and cartridge you must do it. 
You must remember that your own lives are at stake, and you 
will fire low, and fire to kill. These are hard words, but they 
are necessary words. I hope that we will return with the 
full number assembled here, and with honor and credit to the 
regiment. Fours right ! " 

Each company executed the necessary movement, and 
marched out of the armory. The march was continued unin- 
terrupted down Market street until Spear street was reached. 
Here a halt was made, and ammunition served out to the 
troops — twenty rounds to each man. The ammunition being 
distributed, the regiment marched upon the steamer Oakland, 
where they were joined shortly by the Third Regiment Infan- 
try of twenty-six officers and two hundred and fifty-one men, 
and at ten minutes past eleven o'clock the troops bade fare- 
well to San Francisco, and started for their destination. 

The farewell reception the troops received from the public 
on their way down Market street, and while at the ferry, was 
one of a very mixed nature. Among the persons gathered to 
see us take our departure were a large number of men en- 
dowed with socialistic tendencies, whose view of the situation 
was so narrow that they viewed the calling out of the militia 
as an act of the Government's to abet the railroad company in 
oppressing its employees, and not as an act necessary to 
maintain the laws of the land which guarantee to all equal 
rights in the protection of their property. These men jeered 
and cast all sorts of slurs at the men as they marched along. 
They sincerely wished that the strikers would give the troops 
their quietus. This was one extreme. The other extreme 
was made up of men of equally as narrow a view These 
seemed to think that the workman had no rights whatever, 
and above all things, not even a shadow of a right to strike. 
They believed, or, if they did not believe it, they certainly 



22 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

acted as if such were their belief, that the workingman should 
submit to all restrictions placed upon him, and that, if he 
attempted to rise above his conditions, then the Government 
should force him back again. These are the men who called 
upon us to blow the scoundrels to pieces. Between these two 
extremes there was a third element, made up of men who had 
a true insight into the condition of affairs: men who fully 
recognized the place that strikes hold in the development of 
the human race; men who detect in these visible presenta- 
tions of discontent the conscious awakening of the working- 
man to a noble conception of his place in the history of 
civilization. It was from this stamp of men that the militia 
received its real encouragement; for they saw plainly that the 
ends of the workingman could not be attained through the 
disregard of the laws, but it was only by his developing with 
them and through them that he could even reach his true 
plane. Therefore, above all things, they desired to see the 
supremacy of the laws maintained. Viewing the calling forth 
of the militia as an instrument by which this was to be 
accomplished, they cheered and urged the troops to do that 
duty they had sworn to fulfill. 

Upon the steamer Oakland reaching the other side the 
troops disembarked and marched up the mole. They were 
wheeled into line and halted. The command "Rest" was 
then given. Here the first of a series of provoking delays 
took place. The trains, which were to bear the troops to their 
destination were not fully made up; consequently the troops 
had to remain standing, at the time they most needed rest, 
upon the cold asphaltum for fully an hour. This does not 
speak well for those who were managing the transportation 
of the troops. It was extremely aggravating to the men, 
fatigued as they were after their march down Market street 
laden with baggage, to feel that, had a little foresight been 
exercised, they, instead of being compelled to stand upon the 
pavement for over an hour, might have passed that time in 
resting. A soldier, even though he is of the rank and file, is 
a human being, and needs as much rest as any other human 
being. At 1 a. m., July 4th, the troops were ordered aboard 
the train, and a start was made for Sacramento. The train 
was divided into two sections. The First Regiment was on 
board the first section, while the Third Regiment, together 
with the section of the Light Battery, occupied the second, 
and which followed after the first at about an interval of ten 



THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED OUT. 23 

minutes. Major General Dimond and staff accompanied the 
troops, and took passage on the second section. Brigadier 
General Dickinson and staff journeyed on the first section. 

Each company had a separate car assigned to them. The 
members of Company B lost no time in relieving themselves 
of their knapsacks and blankets. Some of the men made up 
berths at once with the intention of getting as much rest 
and under as favorable conditions as possible. Others how- 
ever thought it a waste of time to go to all this trouble for 
what they supposed would be but a few hours rest ; so they 
simply stretched their legs upon the opposite seat and thus 
went to sleep. Here was another mistake. How much better 
it would have been had the men been informed that instead 
of a three hours' journey before them they would be on the 
road eight or nine hours. The men then would have made 
due preparations for a good night's rest. The Keeley Club, 
of which more will be related hereafter, appropriated a sec- 
tion of the sleeper to themselves, and, not knowing but what 
the days of some of them were numbered, proceeded to 
have a good time while they yet lived, for they knew that 
if any of their number did fall in the conflict with the 
strikers, that they would be a long time dead. All the 
early hours of the morning sounds of revelry could be heard 
coming from their apartment. Every now and again some 
tired individual, whose repose was broken by these revelers, 
would impatiently demand in language more forcible and 
expressive than can be represented here why it was they 
could not keep still. Ever and anon Captain Cook's voice 
would be distinguished above the dim. " That will do now, 
let us have more quiet." The effect of these commands was 
but temporary. A moment later they were at it again. And 
"[ the morning. 



Precautions were taken to attract the least amount of atten- 
tion possible. The window-shades were drawn so as to prevent 
the gleam of lights from tempting missiles from the strikers. 
In spite of these precautions, just after the train passed Six- 
teenth Street Station, a rock was hurled through the window 
of the cab of the second section narrowly missing the head of 
the engineer. Before the First Regiment left the armory, 
details were selected from each company to act as train 
guards, and placed under the command of Lieut. Thomp- 
son of Company G. Their special duty was to guard the 



24 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

engine. Company B, Third Infantry, Captain Kennedy com- 
manding, was detailed as train guard for the second section. 
Besides these guards sentinels were posted by the First Ser- 
geants of each company at both ends of the cars. These men 
were stationed upon the platforms and relieved every hour. 
Their orders were of a twofold nature: First, they were to 
prevent anyone from leaving the car; Secondly, they were 
to alight whenever the train stopped and see that no one 
interfered in any way with it. Any person they saw 
approaching the train they were to call upon to " halt." 
If the order was not obeyed they were to warn him, and 
finally if this proved ineffectual they were to fire upon him. 
Each sentinel loaded his piece as he went on duty. No 
sentinel had occasion to carry out literally his orders as the 
journey to Sacramento was practically uneventual At Six- 
teenth street, Oakland, the train was delayed for a short 
time. Here it was found that the Block switch system would 
not work, the pipes containing the wires having been cut, 
thus rendering the entire system useless. The nature of the 
damage having been ascertained, the train proceeded on its 
way. 

When the train stopped at Sixteenth Street Station the 
sentinels alighted in pursuance of their orders. There 
were a considerable number of people gathered at this place. 
Here it was that an unknown person, who was evidently a 
striker bent on mischief, but who claimed to be a deputy 
marshal, was given an opportunity of measuring the caliber 
of the men of the "City Guard" and of the National Guard 
in general. This person emerged from the crowd and was 
approaching the train, when Private George Claussenius, 
noticing him, called upon him to halt. The fellow, not a 
bit disturbed merely said: "Oh, that's all right, I'm a 
deputy marshal." This explanation might have been 
accepted in some quarters, but this time he knocked upon 
the wrong door. Claussenius quickly threw up his rifle, 
and forcibly said, "I don't care who you are; Halt!" The 
man paused, undecided whether to advance or retreat. Lieut. 
Lundquist, who was standing upon the platform, took in 
the situation. "Claussenius," he quietly said, "if that man 
advances a step further shoot him." In an instant the man's 
indecision vanished. He turned and slunk back into the 
crowd. The man's indentity was never ascertained. If he 
was a striker the reception he received was a proper one; 



THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED OUT. 25 

and if he was a deputy marshal he can thank his stars that 
his departure was not accelerated by the prod of a bayonet. 
These men, recruited in many instances from the scum of 
mankind gave themselves the airs of a Lucifer. But before 
the campaign was over more than one of them was taken 
down a peg or two by the different members of the National 
Guard. 

At Tracy Private O'Brien had an amusing experience with 
a rustic, it was early in the morning. The sun had just bo- 
gun to trace his westward course in the heavens. The fields, 
with one exception, seemed deserted, as far as the eye could 
stretch. The air held a deep stillness which was broken only 
by the sweet singing of the birds and disagreeable snoring of 
the soldiers. It was a beautiful opening of a Fourth of July 
morning. Crossing one of the fields at this time was a coun- 
try rustic who, upon seeing the train, had his curiosity 
aroused; so, changing his direction, he advanced toward it. 
It so happened he approached the car that O'Brien was guard- 
ing. What a queer specimen ! He was attired as the rustic 
is generally represented upon the stage. His trousers were 
drawn up almost to his neck by an abbreviated pair of sus- 
penders. His head was covered by a w r ell-battered straw hat, 
and his feet incased — O'Brien swears that they were number 
14 — in a cowhide pair of boots. O'Brien amusingly sized him 
up until he arrived within about four feet from the car, then 
suddenly stepping forward he brought his piece with a snap 
to the " charge bayonet," and cried out sharply " halt." As- 
tonished at the unexpected sally, the rustic started involun- 
tarily backward and exclaimed, " Why the gol darn thing's got 
stickers on 'em." A visible representation of the stickers was 
enough for the countryman. He did not approach closer. 

The men as they awoke into consciousness that morning, 
but little refreshed by their short repose, w T ere surprised to find 
that Sacramento was still a considerable distance off. It seems 
that those who were engineering the transportation of the 
troops thought it would be safer to proceed to the capital 
by way of Stockton, instead of going direct. The men 
now began to realize what a bitter teacher experience is. In 
their excitement and bustle over being called out, and also 
on account of the pretty general opinion that existed 
among the men that the service we were to perform would 
not last more than a day or two at the most, many of the 
men paid little attention to the order telling them to bring 



26 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



rations and underclothing. As the morning gradually ad- 
vanced unto noon their stomachs began to remind them 
that it was time to eat. They were ready to eat; but what ? 
That was what troubled them. Fortunately the company is 
possessed of some far-sighted minds when the subject under 
consideration is the stomach. These men had brought with 
them a good supply of food. But even when these divided 
their supply in true Samaritan style, the quantity given to 
those that did not bring food was so small that it alleviated 
but slightly the pangs of hunger. Company B suffered less in 
this respect than did the other companies. A large number 
of B's men love their stomach too well to run the smallest 
chance of having it suffer. Future developments will dis- 
close what dreadful effects the misusing of their beloved or- 
gan had upon the men. The hungry mortals looked forward 
longingly for their arrival at Sacramento. For here surely 
they would be adequately supplied. But they were doomed 
to disappointment. Adjutant General Allen worked upon 
this hypothesis, that if the men did not bring the rations he 
ordered them to, they themselves were to blame and must 
therefore suffer the consequences. But how foolish is such 
reasoning. What if the men are to blame? Is it not the 
duty of a general to see that his men receive the proper sub- 
sistence. It is indeed a poor commander who hopes for suc- 
cess and at the same time allows his men to suffer hunger in 
the midst of plenty. Happily the men did not know what 
awaited them, they were content to live in hopes. 

The train passed through Stockton at about 6:30 a. m. 
Here Companies A and B of the Sixth Regiment were stand- 
ing in line ready to join the San Francisco regiments and 
proceed to the capital. They were taken on board the second 
section. The journey from Stockton was soon finished, and 
at 8:30 a. m. the first section arrived in Sacramento, and 
stopped at Twenty-first street. 





CHAPTER III. 



FOURTH OF JULY AT SACRA MENTO. 

i war take all the time for thinking that the circumstances 
, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking." 

Andrew Jackson. 



SACRAMENTO at last ! Ah, boys, little did we think 

when our section pulled in at Twenty-first street, 

that we were now on the future field of the great 

and glorious, but bloodless battle of "The Depot." The 

battle of strategic "co-operations" and still existing 

" truces," in which we were destined to take such a 

prominent "standing" part. 

Sacramento! The scene of our future troubles and joys 
(much of the former but how very few of the latter). Our 
troubles began when the order came to sling knapsacks and 
form in the street. That never to be forgotten 4th of July 
was a banner day for heat, even in the annals of sultry Sac- 
ramento; and as we stepped from our car, tired, hungry, and 
oh, my ! how hot, we were inhumanely confronted by a large 
sign on the side of a brewery, " Ice Cold Buffalo 5cts." The 
eye of many a brave comrade grew watery and his mouth 
dry as we stood there in the burning rays of the sun with our 
knapsacks and blankets on our backs facing that sign like a 
little band of modern Spartans and waiting patiently for the 



SO THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

order to march. Soon the " glittering staff," armed to the 
teeth, passed " gorgeously" by; the order " forward " echoed 
along the line, and the " army of occupation" was in motion. 

We had arrived and formed at 8:00 and marched at about 
8:30. The train stopped at Twenty-first and R streets, and our 
line of march to the armory was as follows: North along 
Twenty-first to P, along P to Eleventh, along Eleventh to N, 
along N to Tenth, along Tenth to L and along L to the armory 
on the corner of Sixth, in all fully three miles. 

Never before did the Old City Guard participate in such a 
4th of July " parade." After a long night of unrest, trudging 
along block after block through the sweltering heat, without 
the enlivening sounds of drums or fife, our heavy packs grow- 
ing heavier at every step, the salt perspiration blinding our 
eyes, and looking up only to see the heat dancing along the 
road in front of us, we felt little inclination to joke or notice 
the open-mouthed wonder of many of the onlookers. Still 
we could hear the remarks of the bystanders, that they 
" guessed the strikers felt sick this morning," or of the 
apparently less impressed small boy who " reckoned de strikers 
would pop off dat fatty fust." The betting was even as to 
whether he meant Kennedy or Sieberst, but the rival claim- 
ants " co-operated " by rendering a decision. 

Worn, weary, and hungry we arrived at the Armory at 9:15> 
and found the Sacramento troops, Companies E and G of the 
Second Infantry, already under arms. Stacking arms on L 
street, and a strong guard being left at the stacks, we were 
inarched in column of twos into the armory drill-hall where 
the now world-renowned " ample breakfast " supplied by 
Adjutant General Allen, late Second Lieutenant Commissary 
Department Missouri State Volunteers, awaited us. This, 
according to General Allen, " ample breakfast," consisted of 
coffee strong enough " to run for Congress," and bread. Cer- 
tainly a very "ample" breakfast for men who had been awake 
and traveling all night, many without dinner the evening 
before, and executed such a trying march that morning. 
Ample, too, when it is considered that this was intended to 
serve both as breakfast and lunch, and, it might be dinner. 

Thus is a lesson in economy given by the military heads 
of this great State to the civil heads who may wish to profit 
thereby. 



FOURTH OF JULY AT SACRAMENTO. 31 

Thus is the frugality of our forefathers, in their great battle 
for home and freedom on the shores of the Atlantic, exempli- 
fied on the distant shores of the calm Pacific by our ever to 
be remembered Adjutant General, late Second Lieutenant 
Commissary Department Missouri State Volunteers. 

However, despite our foolish doubts as to the amplitude and 
quality of our meal, the shade of the hall and the relaxation 
from the fatigue of the march were very welcome. 

While we were regaling ourselves a shot was heard fired 
in the street in front of the armory; and the report quickly 
spread that the shot had been fired by a striker in the crowd, 
wounding a soldier on guard at the stacks. This, however, 
proved untrue, as it was found that a private of the Sixth, 
in loading, accidently discharged his piece, the firing-pin of 
which seems to have been rusty, the cartridge exploding when 
he tried to force it home. The bullet struck the front rank 
man in the calf of the leg, wounding him severely. Pass- 
ing through the guardsman's leg, it struck on a rock in 
the street and split, both pieces glancing into the crowd of 
sightseers. In the crowd four persons in all were injured, 
more or less severely; one of them, Mr. 0. H. Wing, a citizen 
of Sacramento, being struck in the abdomen and killed. His 
death was deeply regretted by the soldiers; especially so as 
Mrs. Wing, his gentle, high-minded widow, wrote to the 
soldier, the unfortunate cause of her bereavement, exonerat- 
ing him from all blame and assuring him of her deepest 
sympathy. 

Having finished our ample breakfast the City Guard was 
marched from the armory in column of twos, and allowed to 
rest in the shade of an awning on the corner of Sixth and M 
streets. 

Now and all during the campaign which followed the 
absurdly childish way in which the press and many of the 
people looked on the citizen soldiery, and on the work w T hich 
they were doing at the call of their country, was both surpris- 
ing and irritating to the men who had left their homes and 
business to protect the lives and property of their fellow- 
citizens. It is true this was no wild unled mob. It was 
worse; as was proven later by the most cold-blooded train 
wreck and murder ever perpetrated in the West, that of the 
12th of July. A murder far beyond the abilities of our 



32 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

ignorant Eastern mobs, planned by the leaders and executed 
by some of the most important members of the A. R. U. 

The absurd position of antagonism to the soldiers taken by 
the people was instanced on this first morning in what now 
seems a rather amusing incident, though it needed but little 
more to make it very serious at the time. 

When arms were stacked in the street in front of the 
armory guards were posted round the building ; L street at 
its crossing with Sixth and for a short distance towards Fifth 
and Seventh streets being most heavily guarded. This of 
course stopped the passage of all teams over this street for 
about the distance of a block. As " B " was leaving the 
armory to make room for the less fortunate companies which 
had not yet been introduced to General Allen's breakfast, by 
this time reduced to bread and water, we saw an infuriated 
fool driving a wagon in which were seated two women and a 
child, lashing his horse at a furious pace through the line of 
sentries. He had passed several, but just at the crossing of 
Sixth street met men of sterner stuff. Two sentries, members 
of a Sacramento company, who happened to be close together 
and in the center of the street, decided to stop his mad 
career. One brought his piece to the " charge bayonets" while 
the other prepared to grasp the horse by the bridle. This he 
did, and did well, just as the horse reared at the pointed 
bayonet, carrying the soldier with him. Had he missed his 
leap for the bridle the horse would most undoubtedly have 
been impaled on the bayonet. The beast in the wagon 
became laughably furious when the beast in the shafts was 
stopped. He wasted his breath shouting out the usual jargon 
about " being a taxpayer," etc., but it was of no avail ; he 
was led ignominiously back over the route over which he had 
made his glorious charge for principle, greeted by the laugh- 
ing jeers of the crowd that cheered him but a moment 
before as he made his mad rush to get through. Such is the 
uncertainty of jmblic favor. 

Here in the shade we waited, amusing ourselves as best we 
could, our guards at the company stacks being relieyed every 
half hour until at 11: 15 a. m., we received the order to fall in, 
preparatory, it seemed to the unconsulted enlisted man, to 
moving on the depot. This was confirmed in our minds 
when, having formed at the stacks, we were relieved of the 
heavy burden of our knapsacks ; these being placed on 
wagons impressed for the purpose. 



FOURTH OF JULY AT SACRAMENTO. 33 

The division formation was made on Sixth street, the boys 
of " B " feeling greatly chagrined when they saw Brigadier 
General Sheehan's four companies, " E " and " G," of the 
Second Infantry, and " A " and " B," of the Sixth Infantry of 
Stockton take the van; and surprise, too, thinking, as we did, 
that the lack of faith in the Sacramento companies at least 
was the real cause of our call for service. Later on that try- 
ing day our misgivings were justified. 

The First Regiment under Colonel W. P. Sullivan fell in 
behind General Sheehan's command. The First Battalion, 
under Major Geo. R. Burdick, consisting of companies " A," 
Captain Marshall, " H," Captain Eisen, " G," Captain Sutliff, 
and " B," Captain Cook ; and the Second Battalion under 
Major Jansen, consisting of companies " F," Captain Margo, 
" D," Captain Baker, and " C " under Lieutenant Ruddick. 
The Third Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Barry commanding, 
brought up the rear, and acted as guard to the baggage. 
General Dimond and staff, and the Second Brigade Signal 
Corps, Captian Hanks, marched in rear of the First Regiment 

The movement toward the depot commenced at about 
11:45 a. m., the companies of General Sheehan's command 
marching in close column of company, and the San Francisco 
regiments falling almost immediately into street column for- 
mation; the Gatling gun section of Light Battery "A," under 
1st Lieutenant Holcombe, taking position in the hollow of the 
First Battalion of the First Regiment. 

To those in the ranks it seemed as though the large crowds 
of gayly dressed sightseers which followed us, looked upon 
our march as a Fourth of July celebration. This, without 
doubt, was the cause of the remarkable sight which greeted us, 
as the Sacramento and Stockton companies fell away from 
our front later in the day, and exposed to our view a motley 
crowd of men, women, and children. It seemed more like a 
Saturday afternoon crowd on Market street than a mob 
resisting the authority of a United States marshal. Still it 
took but a second glance to tell us that the great majority 
were strikers. 

What interesting studies were our comrades as we marched 
quietly along toward the depot; how truly were the feelings 
of each depicted on his face. Here and there fear was to 
be seen, plainly mingled however, with a determination not 



34 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

to yield to the feelings. Some, too, seemed to feel an elation 
at the approaching conflict, while by far the greater number 
marched along wth an indifference surprising in men who 
were answering their first call for actual service, and that, too, 
against men as well armed as they, angry and determined not 
to yield a foot. The militia well knew that this was no beer- 
drinking, stone-throwing, leaderless mob, to which the East 
is so well accustomed; but, on the contrary, that it was a well- 
organized and coolly led mob, holding the advantage of posi- 
tion and determined to fight rather than yield. 

As the column debouched from Second street into the 
open ground before the depot, men wearing the A. R. U. 
badge could be seen rushing in from all directions, summoned, 
by furious blasts on a steam whistle, a preconcerted signal 
used by the strikers as soon as the intention of our officers 
became apparent. 

When the head of our column had almost reached the open 
west end of the depot the command was halted, our battalion 
still keeping its street column formation. Then commenced 
a trial far more trying in the minds of most of us than even 
the hot fight we had so surely expected, would have been. It 
was now high noon and the sun had reached its zenith, the 
heat being remarkable even for Sacramento; the road was 
covered with a fine dust, which, stirred by the restless feet of 
the waiting soldiers, hung in clouds in the warm air, making 
breathing almost impossible. 

As the column halted, the crowd which had been following 
us and which gathered at the blast of the steam whistle rushed 
in around the four foremost companies, completely shutting 
them off from our view, except for the line of bayonets which 
glistened above the heads of the mob. Then commenced a 
scene of confusion almost indescribable. Shouts, cheers and 
hoarse commands mingling in an uproar that at times was 
deafening. The strain on the San Francisco troops now 
became intense; the lack of sleep and food, combined with the 
terrific heat and the excitement and anxiety of the occasion, 
began to have its effect; many of the men tottered and fell. 
They were cmickly borne off by their comrades in the ranks 
or by men of ihe fife and drum corps, who did efficient serv- 
ice on that trying day, to the hospital, established temporarily 
in the pipe house of the water company, where the Hospital 
Corps of the First did heroic work; gaining, as of course, no 
recognition thereof by the press. 



FOURTH OF JULY AT SACRAMENTO. 35 

The uproar in front continued. Suddenly the glittering 
line of bayonets fell and shouts from the mob of "Fall in 
there!" "Get in front!" "Don't give a step!" resounded over 
the tumult. Anxiously we waited to hear the next order, 
which might ring the deathknell of many of our comrades, 
when shout after shout pealed out from the excited mob. A 
thrill ran along our ranks. " They had thrown down their 
arms." We gritted our teeth and waited breathlessly for the 
order to charge. But that order was not to come during that 
whole trying day. Three times did the report run along the 
line that the Sacramento men had thrown down their arms 
and then taken them up again at the entreaty of their officers. 
The men in our ranks began to feel disgusted. Wasthis to be 
the performance gone through by each company in turn? 
Were they to be cheered and argued with, coddled and cajoled 
out of the ranks? Standing there in the dust, burning with 
thirst for water we dare not touch, with the thermometer 
above one hundred and live degrees in the shade, watching 
the farce in front, and looking off toward the vacant unpro- 
tected south front of the depot, knowing well that a corporal's 
squad, if thrown in from the rear, could clear it, and yet 
powerless to move, it would have been little wonder if the 
best trained regular troops became disgusted. "Why do we 
not take the strikers in the rear while they palaver with the 
men in front ?" " Where are our Generals, not a sign of whom 
have we seen since our arrival, and their staffs, numbering 
enough in themselves to clear the depot?" However, 

" Their's not to reason why." 
We must stand there and await developments. They were 
certainly improving our tempers to fight, for we would have 
fought an European host for the chance to get into that shady 
depot and escape the burning heat of the dusty road. The 
men continued to fall on all sides exhausted, and it seemed as 
if the laurels of victory would deck the brow of a third party — ■ 
Old Father Sol. The uproar of shouts, cheers, and yells 
continued in front. Suddenly a wave of surprise, then of sat- 
isfaction, passed over us. The Sacramento troops were march- 
ing off the ground, followed by a frantic mob of men and 
boys. Our chance would come soon. Speculation now be- 
came rife. Would the Stockton men do the same, or would 
they press forward against the mob ? A few minutes of 
tumult, mingled yells and cheers for " Stock " settled the 



36 THE STRIKE AT SACRAMENTO. 

question for us. We saw the flash of the bayonets as the 
pieces were brought to the right shoulder; fours right, column 
right, and the Stockton companies marched by, cheered to 
the echo by the strikers. 

Our turn at last! A yell of "Three cheers for the San 
Francisco boys " was answered lustily by the mob. But we 
had gone beyond that; we wanted that depot, and meant to 
have it if the officers would only give the order. We grasped 
our pieces ready for the order, " Forward," those who were 
growing sick and dizzy bracing themselves for a final rush. 
But the order never came. Cries for quiet and of " Baldwin" 
came from the mob nearest the Depot, and looking over the 
heads of the crowd we could see Marshal Baldwin mounting 
to the roof of the cab of one of a string of dead locomotives 
which stretched along the main line west. He was quickly 
followed by three or four leaders of the mob, who succeeded 
in quieting the crowd by assurances of "keep quiet"; "one at 
a time"; "you're next"; etc. Now began a novel scene in- 
deed. Imagine a United States marshal, with six hundred 
soldiers at his back, pleading with a mob with, as it seemed to 
us, tears in his eyes, to disperse, to surrender the Depot, to 
return to their homes. From that moment the strikers knew 
that the day was won, that no troops, no matter how willing, 
would enter that building while commanded by Marshal Bald- 
win, without the strikers' own kind permission. How that 
mob enjoyed our humiliation and the scene of a United States 
marshal pleading with them like a child. We had been called 
from our homes for active service, and now stood, in all our 
useless bravery, the audience of a farce in real life. 

The farce proceeded. The men on the cab draped the mar- 
shal's head with small American flags, exchanged hats with 
him, and indulged in a few other pleasantries for the edifica- 
tion of their friends below. 

Failing in his first purpose the marshal now began to plead 
for time that he might meet Mr. Knox or Mr. Compton and 
talk it over with them; methods which were supposed to have 
been tried before the call for military aid. He begged for a 
truce until 3 o'clock. Oh, the irony of it ! He, the agressor, 
begging for a truce at the hands of a mob until then plainly 
on the defensive. They refused the truce, the time was too 
short, they said. " Then 5, 6 o'clock," appealingly spoke the 
marshal. Seeing plainly that the day was lost and that any 



FOURTH OF JULY AT SACRAMENTO. 39 

greater delay would now only be injurious to his own men, 
Col. Sullivan of the First, who, by the way, appeared to be the 
ranking officer present, though there had been at least four 
general officers with us in the morning, stepped upon the cab 
and told the mob, not in tones of pleading, but decidedly, 
that this truce must be entered into; that his men were not 
used to such extreme heat, and that he intended to move them 
into the shade. Suddenly Knox, the leader of the strikers, 
escorted by a large American flag, emerged from the depot, 
cheered loudly by the mob. Now, it appears a truce until 6 
o'clock was quickly entered into, and the men who had 
marched confidently through the town that morning were, 
amid the hoots and jeers of the people, led away, sullen and 
dispirited, to a vacant lot by the side of the depot. Here the 
men of the First were allowed to rest and take advantage of 
such shade as they could find. B and the section of Light 
Battery A took possession of an old shed; C and G found 
another in rear of the first, which they appropriated to their 
own use; D was stretched on the ground a short distance 
farther on, and the other companies mingled together in the 
shade of some trees some distance to the right of B's position. 
It could now be seen that, among the men, the disgust at the 
failure to accomplish what we had come such a distance to 
do, was very great. In B, at least, it was deep and genuine. 
All during that long sultry day the unprotected front en- 
trance of that cool, shady building had stared us in the face, 
and yet, for some unaccountable reason, we did not get the 
order to enter. We felt that the strikers would retire if a 
company were thrown quietly in through that end, and were 
justified in our opinion, when, some days later, a corporal's 
squad of regulars cleared the place in a few moments. 

Under the influence of the rest and shade our excited feel- 
ings gradually became relieved. Talk as we might we could 
not improve our situation, so we soon resigned ourselves to 
circumstances, and waited as quietly as possible for 6 o'clock. 
The men of the Hospital Corps, under whose care 150 men 
had been placed during those three hours, now gradually 
drew ahead with their work, and soon had all their patients 
relieved. Out of the 150 soldiers prostrated we are glad to be 
able to say that only three were from B, and even these, after 
a few minutes' rest, were able to lend their assistance to the 
Hospital Corps themselves. 



40 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Delegates from the strikers now made their appearance, with 
the evident intention of getting the soldiers drunk before six 
o'clock. Captain Cook, however, ordered his men to accept no 
invitations to drink. Not to be baffled, the strikers soon reap- 
peared, carrying cases of bottled beer, which the captain 
quickly refused to allow his men to receive. Still persistent, 
a striker stepped into the shade of our shed carrying two quart 
bottles of whiskey, which he proceeded to toss amongst the 
men. The captain was still on the alert, however, and ordered 
the bottles returned, telling the overgenerous striker that he 
would not allow his men to receive liquor. 

Lieutenant Filmer and Sergeant Kelly were then sent into 
town, with orders to purchase two cases of soda water, which, 
on its arrival, was quickly disposed of. Quartermaster Ser- 
geant Clifford, ever watchful, procured at a coffee house close 
by a supply of buns, which he quickly manufactured into 
sandwiches, and distributed amongst his famished comrades. 

The scene had by this time become exceedingly picturesque. 
The tired, wearied men had quieted down, some stretched on 
the ground sleeping heavily, their heads pillowed on rolled 
blankets or on knapsacks; others resting in the same way, 
though chatting quietly, and still others were busily writing 
letters, using the head of a drum or the back of a knapsack 
placed on the knees as they sat on the ground as a desk. 

It has been commonly reported that the soldiers became 
boisterously drunk, and fraternized freely with the very men 
they had come there to fight. If this be so, it was confined 
almost entirely to the other commands, no man of the First, 
to our knowledge, and most decidedly none of " B," being 
even slightly intoxicated. The afternoon passed slowly by, 
no apparent preparations being made to resume hostilities at 
the expiration of the truce. Six o'clock came, but with it no 
change of position. Now we began to wonder whether or not 
our "ample breakfast" of the morning was intended to serve 
as supper, too. If that were so, we decided that man's nature 
had changed since General Allen was young, for we certainly 
began to feel the pangs of hunger. 

Our fears were allayed, however, when, at 6:30, the order 
" Fall in for supper" was given. Taking our arms with us, 
we were marched, under command of Lieutenant Filmer, to 
the State House Hotel, where our display of gastronomic 
powers completely dismayed the scurrying waiters. 



FOURTH OF JULY AT SACRAMENTO. 41 

Returning from supper our pace was an evidence of the 
good use we had made of this chance to appease our appetites. 

Returned to our shed near the depot, it was evident the 
position remained unchanged. The different companies were 
either going to or returning from supper at the various hotels. 

The evening passed quietly; many of the men sleeping on 
the ground where they had thrown their knapsacks. 

At about 9:30 p. m. Captain Cook formed the company, and 
told us that the First would be removed to the Horticultural 
Hall, on the main floor of which we would be allowed to bi- 
vouac that night. The companies were already moving, and 
" B," getting possession of an electric car, was the last company 
to leave. The car, as of course, proved to be the wrong one, 
and carried us less than half the desired distance. The rest 
of the way was covered on foot, the company arriving at the 
hall some little time after the other companies had settled 
down for the night. What a scene we would have presented 
to the eyes of a stranger! Every available foot of floor was 
covered with sleeping forms. The band stand and stage were 
utilized; even the steps, a very precarious bed indeed, were in 
demand; and every corner that appeared to offer security from 
draughts had its quota of men. 

Thus ended that great and glorious Fourth of July, in the 
year of our Lord, 1894. Glorious, indeed, in the annals of 
this great Empire State of the West. 

Thus, too, does history repeat itself. The Fourth of July! 
The anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and of 
that greatest struggle of the Civil War of the Rebellion, the 
battle of Gettysburg; and now, for all future ages, to be trebly 
honored as the anniversary of the bloodless battle of the Sac- 
ramento Depot. 




FIRST REGIMENT CAMP, CAPITOL GROTO 



CHAPTER IV. 

CAMP ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 



THURSDAY morning, July 5th, the weary members 
of the First Regiment were awakened from a com- 
fortless sleep on the hard floor by the catcalls and 
shrieks of the early birds. Company F was quartered 
on the band-stand, and, from this point of vantage, sent 
up yells that would wake the dead; and clear and loud 
above all were heard the strident tones of Tommy Eggert. 
Sleep was out of the question, not to say dangerous, for soon 
bands of practical jokers were roaming around, like lions, 
seeking whom they might devour. Private Hayes discovered 
Sergeant Sturdivant in slumber sweet, his lengthy form 
enveloped in an immaculate and frilled nightgown, his tiny 
pink feet (he wears 10's) incased in dainty worsted slippers 
fastened with pink ribbons; this was too much. Did he 
think he was at the Palace Hotel? If he even dreamed of 
such a thing he was soon to receive a rude awakening. 
Willing hands seized the blanket on which he lay, and he 
was yanked out into the middle of the floor. He awoke to 
find himself surrounded by a howling mob of men, while 
shouts of laughter filled the hall. What became of the 
nighty-nighty and those slippers is a mystery; for a number 
of the souvenir fiends of the company went on a still hunt 
42 



CAMP ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 43 

for those articles , but all in vain, they were never seen after- 
wards. Ben soon learned to sleep with his clothes on like the 
rest of the crowd. 

Renewed confidence and security filled the rank and 
file when it was learned that we had received a strong rein- 
forcement in the person of the old (young) Veteran Corporal 
Lew Townsend.* 

Soon the question of breakfast became of vital interest, and 
the faces of the boys grew very serious at the thought of a 
repetition of the heavy breakfast of the day before. Bat there 
were better things in store for us. The company received 
the order to " fall in," and was marched to one of the down- 
town hotels, where a good meal was served. Thus fortified, 
we were ready for any thing, from playing marbles to killing 
a man. At this meal a nice large size linen napkin was 
placed at the plate of each man. Hereby hangs a tale. 
Handkerchiefs and towels were scarce. The boys had already 
been so well imbued with the principle of " taking," by the 
illustrious and industrious example of Quartermaster Arthur 
Clifford, the great exponent of the art " of acquiring," that 
seldom was a napkin seen again by any of the company on a 
Sacramento hotel dining-table. The honesty and rectitude of 
Van Sieberst must here receive special mention, his response 
to the call to serve his country was so hurried that he failed 
to supply himself with the necessary handkerchiefs and towels; 
but his fertile brain soon found a way out of this difficulty. 
He took a napkin, or, when such was not available, a roller 
towel from the hotel in the morning, used it all day as 
handkerchief and towel, but — here is where honesty became 
the best policy — returned the soiled article at supper, ap- 
propriated a clean one, and then, at night, sleot that calm and 
peaceful sleep which the just alone enjoy. 

After breakfast we were marched back to the hall, and there, 
for a few delightful hours, disported ourselves in its cool area. 

* Corporal Lew R. Townsend is the veteran of the National Guard of California. He is 
62 years of age. and has been in constant active duty for 40 veins. He joined the First Cali- 
fornia Guard on July 12,1854, and was transferred on January :;n, lsv;, to the City Guard. 
He remained a member of this organization until April, Ink;, 'the date of the organization 
of the California National Guard, when it became Company B of the First Regiment 
Infantry, N. G. C Lew continued his membership with this latter organization, and at 
present wears 13 service stripes, which show that he has served 39 years. On September 
14th, 1894, he enlisted again, giving him credit for over 40 years' of service. 

Lew's motto is " I'll stay with the boys," and he is the biggest boy in the crowd himself. 
Though his feet are going' back on him a little, he manages to air his numerous medals, 
and bejeweled gun at all parades and military displays, and never misses a drill. He is 
still a good shot, and on Sunday morning, when his Palace Hotel breakfast ag-ees with 
him, makes the eyes of the youngsters over at the Shell Mound shooting range stick out 
of their heads at his remarkable shooting. May his kindly, jolly face be ever with us. 



44 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

This hall and the depot were the only cool spots in 
Sacramento. Scientists may rave about the spots on the 
sun, but a cool spot was the only spot that interested the 
'Frisco boys while at Sacramento. The hope that we might 
continue to be quartered in this hall, was soon to be dispelled. 
The order came to fall in, and, after the usual ceremonies, the 
regiment was turned over to Colonel Sullivan, who made 
a short speech, in which he praised the conduct of the men 
the day before. The failure of the National Guard to accom- 
plish its purpose could not, he said, be attributed to the lack 
of loyalty on the part of the First Regiment. He further 
stated that we would at once march over to the lawn of the 
Capitol where tents would be pitched, and camp established. 

During the campaign the men were inflicted with all kinds 
of oratory. The number of speeches made would do credit to 
a political campaign, both as to quantity and quality. Col- 
onel Sullivan started the flow of oratory at the armory with his 
dramatic and forcible "shoot to kill" speech. We had many 
speeches from him afterwards that ranged from the sublime 
to the pathetic. Who of us will ever forget the 4th of July, 
when we stood like Spartans under a blazing sun, listening to 
the oratory of Marshal Barry Baldwin and the strikers, who 
held forth from the top of an engine-cab. Major Burdick, 
many think, came next; but our boys say Captain Cook. We 
think they stand about even. Major Burdick's speeches were 
longer; but, though Captain Cook spoke oftener (he gave us a 
rattle every morning before breakfast) and his speeches were 
just as long in point of time — he said less. A number 
expressed the opinion that these gentlemen were just practic- 
ing the art of spouting, to be in good condition to take an 
active part in the political campaign which would be inaugu- 
rated a few months later. 

The regiment was then marched to the Capitol grounds, 
where tents were pitched on the nice, smooth, green lawn. It 
was afterwards rumored throughout the camp that this was 
done despite the objections of General Allen, who wanted the 
camp pitched on the plowed and broken ground just beyond 
the lawn. Our good General would not entertain the proposi- 
tion; considering the comfort and welfare of his men of far 
more importance than the lawn. Hearing this rumor, the 
poet laureate of the company, after three days of close appli- 
cation, hard study, and great mental exertion produced the 
following poetic gem: 



CAMP ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 47 

Then up spoke General Allen ; his voice was fierce and loud, 
" Your men must leave this grassy lawn, there is a field just 
plowed. 
It is more meet to send them there; why should the rank and file 
Have access around the Capitol, or its green lawns defile? " 
Thus spoke the doughty warnor from Missouri's classic plains; 
But a peal ot scornful laughter he got for all his pains. 

For General Dickinson uprose, and raised on high his hand, 
And said: u The gallant soldiers 1 am honored to command 
Shall fare as is hetittmg our boys so brave and true, 
Despite of martinets, whose forte is dress parade review." 
We hailed our dashing General with a hearty three times three, 
And Allen ot Pike county merged into obscurity. 

It was at tins juncture that the disciplesof Mickey Free, made 
famous by Charles Lever, made themselves conspicuous, led 
by William Tooker, the quietest man that ever sold a brogan, 
they nestled down amid the blankets and comforters that were 
piled beneath the trees, and gazed with dreamy eyes, through 
the curling smoke of the ever present cigarette, at their toil- 
ing companions erecting the tents under the hot sun. During 
the day, between the heat and flies, these tents were practically 
uninhabitable. 

While the men were thus busily engaged the busy mind 
of Quartermaster Clifford was filled with thoughts of the 
noonday meal; where was it to come from? The regi- 
mental commissary department was established in rather 
a condensed form under a large tent about one hundred 
feet to the right of the regiment. The men had worked up 
quite an appetite, and if there is any thing a Guardsman likes 
to do it is to eat. Clifford's experience had taught him this, 
and he resolved that the boys should get what was coming to 
them, and as much more as he could take. Their confidence 
in him must not be misplaced. He carelessly strolled over to 
the commissary's tent and inquired of the assistant commis- 
sary, what time he would call for Company B's rations; he 
was informed that as soon as enough sandwiches were made 
for the regiment each company would get its portion. As 
soon as they had made enough sandwiches to feed the regiment! 
This remark set Clifford thinking. It was now 11:30 a. m. 
and one man making sandwiches for about four hundred half- 
starved soldiers. Let us see when a "City Guard" man is 
not hungry; it is quite an easy matter for him to put away 
four family size sandwiches; then, there are Dick Radke, Freeh, 
Overstreet, Townsend, and a few others who are good for 
about nine each. That man making sandwiches was likely 



48 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

to be about two thousand years old when he would have his 
job finished. How to give the boys their lunch at 12 o'clock 
under these circumstances was a problem that puzzled him 
deeply; there were several knives lying around, he could take 
one; but what good would be a knife without the stuff to cut? 
There was plenty of bread and beef, but should he commit 
the larceny of them, what would it avail him without a knife 
to cut and carve with? — 

"And thoughts on thoughts, a countless throng, 
Rushed, chasing countless thoughts along." 

Thus ruminating he was disturbed by a sentry who told him 
that only those connected with the regimental commissary 
department were allowed there; he must therefore go. Clifford 
went — about three feet — and stood with his eyes resting on a 
pile of tinware, which was also to be issued proportionately 
with the rations. Something must be done; he must get on the 
inside track some way. His experience told him that some com- 
pany was going to get left when the distribution took place, 
and never should it go down in history that Company B would 
be that company. No; not while he was quartermaster. His 
reputation was at stake, he must now, if ever, display the 
great power, spirit, and desire for " taking " that surged and 
swelled within his manly breast, only awaiting the opportunity 
to burst its bounds, and acquire every thing in sight. 

But how to get on the inside — ah! an idea strikes him, and 
he immediately busies himself helping the lonely sandwich- 
maker. Commissary Sergeant Fitzgerald appears upon the 
scene and asks Clifford who gave him a position in his 
sandwich manufactory. Clifford evaded the question by hum- 
bly venturing his opinion that it would take all day to make 
sandwiches for the whole regiment; and why not issue the 
rations in bulk to each company and let them make their 
own sandwiches. "A good idea" said the commissary ser- 
geant; and for the suggestion Clifford was allowed to take his 
company's rations, which consisted of- 10 ft corned beef, 
5ft cheese, 1 large bologna sausage, 1 roll butter, 12 loaves 
bread, and last, but not least, the apple of every good soldier's 
eye, a keg of hop juice. The stores issued were 2 tin buckets 
and 20 tin cups. 

Clifford began to take the rations, and when he finished 
taking an inventory of the contents of the capacious chest in 
his tent, it was as follows: 15 ft corned beef, 10 ft cheese, 2 large 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 51 

bologna sausages, 2 rolls butter, IS loaves bread, 8 buckets, 40 
tin cups, 2 coifee-pots, 3 dozen each tin plates, knives and 
forks, 2 large knives, 1 bucket sugar, and 1 bucket coffee. It 
was a glorious take, a splendid beginning, and well might our 
quartermaster gaze on the results of his industry and activity 
with pride, feeling that he had done his whole dut}^. 

For a while Clifford had clear sailing ; he was on the inside 
track; was admitted to the ground floor, so to speak; but on a 
fatal day the regimental commissary ran short of butter, and 
the different company quartermasters were notified to that 
effect. This did not phase Clifford; from the cavernous depths 
of liis chest he produced a roil of rich golden butter; and the 
gastronomical wheels of the boys' insides were as liberally 
greased as if the regimental commissary had tons of butter. 
Not so with the members of the other companies, the sand- 
wiches that were wont to slip down their throats when well but- 
tered now rasped tissues and membranes in a most painful 
manner; a great howl was sent up thereat, and a still greater 
howl when it was discovered that B's men had butter. The 
other company quartermasters thinking the regimental com- 
missary was unjustly discriminating in favor of Company B 
made a great kick to Fitzgerald. Company B have butter, im- 
possible! They received no butter from him, this mystery must 
be solved, he straightway swooped down on Clifford, and tak- 
ing him unawares discovered the well-filled condition of his lar- 
der, there he saw many things whose disappearance from his 
quarters puzzled him not a little, he had discovered the leak in 
his stores, and ever afterwards Clifford was looked upon with a 
suspicious eye. Whenever he was seen approaching the com- 
misary department, Fitzgerald immediately made a hasty in- 
ventory of everything in sight, and when anything disap- 
peared he was off like a flash to see if Clifford had it. From 
this on Clifford had an uphill fight — a fight in which he was 
invariably victorious. 

Our regiment was camped about two hundred yards in the 
rear of the Capitol, on the line of L street, the Third Regi- 
ment was camped the other side of the park, about one 
hundred yards from the First. General Dickinson declared 
the camp closed, sentries were posted, and no one was allowed 
to leave or enter the camp without a special permit. 

The Captain's tent was at the head of B street, and he 
shared its occupancy with First Lieutenant E. C. Lundquist, 



52 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



better known as "easy "and Lieutenant George (Chesterfield) 
Filmer, famed for his shapely form and the cut of his 
Prince Albert coat. All three officers were loved by every 
man in the company, and the same feeling of confidence that 
was felt by the men in their officers was felt by the officers 
in the men. 




Tent crowds were now formed, and the leaders drew lots for 
the tents to which they were to be assigned. 

The first tent was occupied by First Sergeant A. F. Ramm. 
He never sleeps, sometimes they think he is asleep, but he has 
always one eye open, handsome Corporal J. N. Wilson, W. L. 
Overstreet, with his hair parted at the equator, Charles Perry, 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 



53 



hot soldier, straight and strong, and keeper of the key.* H. F. 
Powelson, happy-go-lucky, never worried, William Tooker, 
with a pronounced aversion for work and William Unger, the 
veteran. Later on this tent crowd was joined by the alleged 
Dutch comedian, Dr. W. H. Sieberst. 

Tent No. 2 contained a homogenous mixture of mankind. 




Quartermaster Sergeant A. H. Clifford heads the list, with his 
taking ways, a man who took for the sake of taking, who 

* During the last Santa Cruz camp Perry, who was experiencing his first military camp, 
became the victim of an aged and time-honored joke. He was told that the firing of the 
gun announcing sunrise could not be accomplished unless the key was found; he was hur- 
riedly dispatched in search of it. He was sent from one to another, and finally applied to 
Adjutant Williams for the key of the gun. While still pursuing his search the report of 
the gun filled the air; thinking they had found the key he paid no more attention to the 
matter, until he was apprised that a practical joke had been played on him by reading an 
account of it in the papers, at the same time receiving from friends in the city a highly 
ornate and polished hardwood key. 



54 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



considered the right of taking a sacred one, and exercised that 
right at all times much to the benefit of the company's larder ; 
it is said of him that he would rather take than receive ; 
William De Los Murphy, musician, "my name is my fortune, 
sir," he said; W. W. AVilson, another musician who has the 
honor of having his name on the Citv Guard's muster-roll 




R. E. Wilson, with his bosom friend H. Gille, known in the 
Keeley Club as Antonelli, the irresponsible, with a holy and 
righteous dread of water, and always on guard ; Van Sieberst, 
always out for fun and fond of his tea, a very busy man 
around a keg of beer. This tent crowd received considerable 
tone from its association with F. J. Monahan, the society 
leader familiarly known as " lengthy." 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNE 



55 



There were only six married men among the privates of the 
company. Three of them were in No. 3 tent. This alone 
would be enough to distinguish this tent from the others with- 
out making mention of the gallant soldiers it contained. 
Corporal Burtis, always strictly business, and a bad man to 
try to bluff, when he has a gun in his hand. W. H. Hayes 




Secretary of the Keeley Club, who grew a very red whisker 
and wanted to look real hard, and he did; A. H. Freeh, as 
model a little soldier as ever the Vaterland produced, awfully 
particular, cleaning and polishing all the time; Frank Shula, 
who laughs to grow fat, has been very successful in doing so; his 
snore is a thing that has to be heard in order to be appreciated, 
he laughs all day and snores all night; Paul Rupp, full of yarns 



56 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



in connection with his service in Kaiser Wilhelui's army, 
is one of our married men. He is a musician, but later on 
rises to the position of chief cook. Jimmy Wear and George 
Heizman, fitting comrades for Paul Rupp are also married 
men. The way these poor wifeless men clung together 
during the campaign was pathetic, there seemed to be a bond 




of sympathy between them, and in a quiet sort of way they 
consoled each other ; they slept together on the same blanket, 
and partook together their humble meals. Each day they 
dispatched a tender missive to the loved one far away. Last, 
but not least of all, there was Lew Townsend, and between him 
and the three married men the rest of the crowd in this tent 
narrowly escaped demoralization. 



CAMP AT THE CATITOL GROUNDS. 



57 



The fourth tent was known as the Keeley tent. Under the 
canvas covering of this tent the great leaders of the Keeley Club 
held forth. The high priest of the inner circle of the flowing 
bowl was Harry J. Lang and his assistant was P. J. Kennedy. 
The tent leader was none other than the well-known celebrity, 
Corporal Benjamin Burdick ; during the silent watches of the 




H. ADAMS 
GEO. CLAUSSENIUS 

night his still small voice would be heard telling of hair- 
breadth escapes in far away India and lion hunts in the wilds 
of Africa. Kennedy was dubbed the Yolo Farmer the second 
day at camp, and he looked like one. The two Bohemians, 
Lang and Kennedy, were the life of the company, Lang never 
knew a quiet moment ; a most sunny disposition, and as brave 
as a lion ; he was well paired with his comrade Kennedy. 



58 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



Sarn Wise, an honorary member of the company was in this 
tent. At the call to arms he offered his services to the com- 
pany commander, and they were gladly accepted. It is 
entrancing to sit and hear him tell about the first thing he did 
when he went to work. Sam's working periods are so few and 
far apart that he has occasion to remember every little detail 




concerning them. Joe Keane, the basso barrello, with a far- 
away look in his eye; the little hero, Bob Williams, and E. M. 
Stealey, who sang " A Soldier's Life's the Life for Me — Not," 
made up the balance of the crowd. 

The fifth tent was called the Irish tent, headed by the Irish 
Sergeant Walter Kelly, a splendid soldier and officer. Wm. 
Flanagan, good old nine, we called him ; a very active man 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 



59 



when our daily keg of beer was on tap. He claimed descent 
from one of Ireland's famous kings. W. S. McKaig, dubbed 
kinky on account of his curly hair, was always writing letters 
when there would be any work to do. W. W. Crowley, the 
most desperate looking character in the camp and as des- 
perate as he looked. Johnny Gilkyson, drummer and willing 




W. A. BESEMAX. SERGT. H. B. TAYLOR. J. BRIEN. 

T. HAMMEBSON. G. TJNGERMAN. 

worker, had no use for a drum when there was sterner work 
to do, and soon attached himself to a gun. Phil Bannan, 
always quiet and passive, a disciple of Wm. Tooker's and quite 
a society man ; Flanagan called him piano Irish and sneered 
at his social aspirations. Wm. O'Brien, always ready to 
volunteer for dangerous work, was the last, but not the least 



60 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



of this crowd. Upon the hearts of the members of this tent 
was emblazoned the motto, " We Love Our Sarg." * 

Corporal A. McCulloch was the leader of tent No. six. This 
was the intellectual tent. Beneath its classic folds weighty 
questions of state were argued and settled. The crowd in 
this tent claim that nightly they were lulled to rest by the 
voice of their learned corporal in the throes of some mighty 
argument; through the long stretches of the night when they 




would occasionally awaken they would still hear his voice ; 
as if he were engaged in some great controversy. Morning 
found him awake, physically, but the restless brain had 
not slept, and now, with freshened physical senses, he still 
continued his interminable argument. But he had aids and 
abettors in the persons of Henry Adams and R. L. Radke (all 
will recall the soldierly appearance of the last-named gen- 
tleman). Radke the younger, Max and George Claussenius, 
F. J. Sindler and H. C. Warren were the unfortunate and 
paralyzed listeners. 

* Sergeant Kelly. 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 61 

The seventh tent was called the German tent. Sergeant 
Sturdivant, the leader of this crowd, is so tall and thin, that 
it is a surprise to him when he casts a shadow. He is quite a 
society man, and a favorite among the ladies. Another social 
favorite, Humphrey Sullivan, is also in this tent. He sings 
so sweetly that we enjoy it very much, more so if he were 
accompanied by a brass band. In this tent we have two other 
stars in the vocal line, Al Gehret, a basso, and William 
Baumgartner, a tenor, who can reach high "0" without an 
effort. In this crowd was Fetz the long, Zimmerman the short, 
also called Punch for short, and A. Heeth, Jr., with whose 
kindly aid we kept our rags together. This concludes the 
description of the tents of the enlisted men and their occu- 
pants. Only a week previous these men won the Dimond 
trophy, at the yearly encampment of the regiment, for being 
the best drilled and best disciplined company in the camp. 

After our return from supper at one of the hotels, on this 
first evening, those who were w T eary sought the seclusion of 
their tents ; the rest gathered beneath the trees and sang of 
love, but not of glory. Private Tooker sang "Sweet Marie" 
with such pathos and expression, that a tear was seen to 
tremble on the eyelid of Overstreet, and then silently wend 
its way down to the point of his nose, where it hung sus- 
pended for a w r hile as if reluctant to part from him and then 
fell to the earth with a loud splash. Thus we whiled away 
the hours, till the bugle's mellow notes swelling on the mid- 
night air and thrilling the hearts of all with its sweet, solemn 
music, sang the call to rest, and then all was still. 

Thirty minutes had passed and gone ; the brave and true 
were dreaming of home and mother, when a wild yell rang 
out on the stilly air, and sounds of conflict were heard com- 
ing from tents Nos. 3 and 4, occupied by the Keeleys. Soon 
Corporal Townsend was seen beating a hasty retreat in great 
disorder from No. 3 tent, in the direction of the captain's 
abode, where he reported that a well-planned effort was being 
made by the Keeleys to kidnap Private Hayes of tent No. 3. 
Meanwhile exciting scenes were being enacted in these tents. 
The kidnappers, headed by the Yolo Farmer and the High 
Priest of the Keeleys, were endeavoring to drag the person of 
Private Hayes into their tent, but Corporal Burtis, assisted by 
Privates Freeh, Shula, and the married men, Paul Rupp, 
Jimmy Wear and George Heizman, did Trojan work. After 



62 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

a well-delivered blow from Hayes that connected with the 
head of the High Priest, who sent up a howl of pain, they 
were beaten off. The Yolo Farmer, however, returned to the 
charge, bayonet in hand, but the voice of the Captain, threat- 
ening a sojourn in the guard-tent, acted like oil upon troubled 
waters, and soon the warring factions were at rest. 

During the night Fetz of ours, who was doing sentry duty, 
by the ominous click of his gun's hammer and a threat to 
fire, resurrected two festive soldiers out of the brush in which 
they were hiding, preparatory to an attempt to get into camp 
unobserved. They were gathered in and taken to the guard- 
tent, where for two days they sweltered and sweltered. The 
spectacle these two young gentlemen presented as, bucket in 
hand, they went through the streets gathering up the refuse, 
under the vigilant eye of a sentinel, was a source of great 
amusement to their comrades. 

AVhile camped on the Capitol grounds we had breakfast 
and supper at the hotels, and luncheon at camp. Arrange- 
ments were made so that no more than three companies 
would be away at any one time. As usual a number found 
fault with the hotel fare, but a week later, when the regiment 
had to do its own cooking, they would have been very glad 
to return to it. At lunch we had all the fruit we wanted ; 
corned beef was always on the bill of fare ; but the keg of 
beer, that accompanied it, reconciled us. Then there was 
bread, balogna sausage, sometimes crackers, and always 
cheese ; altogether we fared very well during the week. 

Friday morning, on our return from breakfast, Sergeant 
Kelly made a motion, that the rule be established, whereby 
any who shaved during the campaign would be fined a dollar. 

The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Ser- 
geant Kelly was one of the first to avail himself of the expen- 
sive luxury. 

The City Guard boys had now settled upon a unique style 
of wearing their hats, which distinguished them from the rest 
of the companies. The hat was dented four times perpen- 
dicularly, bringing the crown to a point; this, with the 
unshaven faces, and the long swinging stride and step we 
kept while marching to and from town, made us particu- 
larly noticeable, and many comments were passed on our 
appearance. We were getting well seasoned for the hard 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. bo 

work, which we were shortly to be called upon to do, and 
which we hope we did well. 

The newspaper reports about this time were giving the 
boys "that tired feeling." 

In a previous chapter it has been told how disgusted the 
men were at the failure to take the depot. Therefore you may 
judge their surprise, on reading the accounts published in the 
newspapers of the same, to see that the failure to accomplish 
good results was laid at the door of the rank and file of the 
National Guard. The press was not the only accuser of the 
men, but from another source in which the men expected to 
find their vindication they received the " unkindest cut 
of all." Their general officers it was who said they could not 
take the depot, because the men were demoralized and could 
not be trusted. Oh ! what a subterfuge ! On the surface what 
is to be conveyed by such a statement? Two alternatives 
present themselves. First, either the statement is true, or, 
second, the position of the officers themselves was weak and 
they desired to strengthen it by shifting the responsibility 
for the failure from their shoulders to those of the rank and 
file. If this latter course was the one pursued then they 
might have known, mighty though they be in the National 
Guard, that the consequences of such a course would be sure 
sooner or later, to redound with greater force upon them- 
selves, and that instead of their position being strengthened, 
they would stand exposed in all their inqiuity, stripped of the 
last shred of defense. 

Investigation proves that the latter alternative is the cor- 
rect one. The men, despite what comes from the press or 
By other sources, were not demoralized or untrustworthy, 
being demoralized is meant, we should judge, that the troops 
were not under the strict control of their officers, and that 
confusion and lack of discipline reigned in ranks. At no 
time in the day did such a state of affairs prevail. It is true 
that a number of the men were prostrated by the heat, but the 
prostration extended only to a comparative few and not to the 
entire body of men as given out in the reports of certain 
officers. Besides this, the prostration came after the troops 
had stood in line under the hot sun for something like three 
hours. The men were willing and ready at any time that 
afternoon to attempt to force the strikers from the depot. 
Never were they called upon to do a harder thing, or one in 



64 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

which they felt more disposed to rebel against their officers, 
than when they were ordered to withdraw from the scene and 
leave the depot in charge of the strikers. There was not a 
squad of men in Company B, and when I mention Company 
B, I mean also every company with one possible exception, who 
would not willingly, even gladly have charged the mob of 
strikers. Curses, not loud but deep, were uttered in each 
company as they withdrew. In one of the companies under 
the command of Colonel Nunan the men cried out to advance, 
but no order came. Tears of vexation rolled down the 
cheeks of some of the men. To travel over a hundred miles 
and then suffer defeat — oh ! how humiliating — not at the hands 
of the strikers, but from their own officers. And yet, in the 
face of all this, the failure to take the depot was laid at their 
doors. 

Who was to blame for the failure of the operations on the 
Fourth ? It remained for a court of inquiry to finally fix 
the blame upon the shoulders it belonged. This court was 
appointed by Governor Markham, September 8, 1894, to 
inquire into the conduct of those troops of the National Guard 
participating in the strike campaign, from its commencement 
to its close. The work of the court was to be performed with- 
out regard to rank prejudices or preconceived ideas. The 
court sat in session for a period of twenty days, and made a 
minute examination into the operations on the Fourth. Its 
work was well done. In the columns of one of our large 
dailies the following appeared : 

" The court of inquiry has done its duty well — truthful, 
fearless, unmoved by considerations of friendships. Our Cali- 
fornian experience with investigating bodies had given us 
no right to expect this high and honorable result, and it is 
entitled to a swift, signal, and memorable approval by execu- 
tive action." 

The court of inquiry showed plainly that the reports made 
by the commanding officers of the National Guard, and the 
charges appearing in the press concerning the demoralization 
and untrustworthiness of the troops were utterly false ; that 
the rank and file, with the exception of two companies men- 
tioned elsewhere,* "were at all times under good discipline, 
and behaved with becoming courage and loyalty." The court 

*One of these companies was a Sacramento company whose members were mostly 
employed by the railroad and therefor in sympathy with the strikers.in fact some of them 
were strikers. The other company was a company of the Third Kegiment. Concern- 
ing this latter company, there are many extenuating circumstances Had the officers 
remained with their company there is no" doubt but what it would have been as reliable as 
any other. 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 65 

further found that certain officers greatly magnified the reports 
concerning the physical debility of the men. The court, in 
summing up, says: "There were men in the ranks, plenty and 
willing to retrieve the day, when at three o'clock, after stand- 
ing patiently in the sun for three hours, they received their first 
orders, which were to move off and abandon the attempt to 
take the depot." Thus the rank and file were finally vindi- 
cated after being for some time the object for obloquy by the 
public and press. 

The question, who was to blame for the failure on the 
Fourth, we would gladly leave at this place unanswered were 
it not for the fact that an implication is worse than an asser- 
tion. So we again refer to the report of the court of inquiry. 
Here it is shown that, on that memorable occasion, " Gen- 
eral Sheehan refused to obey orders, directly communi- 
cated to him by Major General Dimond, to effect an entrance 
into the depot by force, and to fire upon the mob if they 
refused to give way"; it was further shown, that when the 
officer, upon whom the command of the Second Brigade had 
devolved, received distinct orders from Major General Dimond 
to clear the depot, by force if necessary, he left his command 
and urged the commanding General not to compel him to 
obey the order, as his men were demoralized and could not 
be relied upon. It was upon this representation that 
an armistice was entered into between the United States 
marshal and the strikers. Here we have the case in a nut- 
shell. No orders were given to the troops to advance at any time 
that afternoon against the strikers. A spirit of hesitation pre- 
vailed amongst the commanding officers. When decisive 
action should have been taken questions of constitutional law 
were debated by them at length. Instead of an officer 
executing the commands transmitted to him by a superior 
officer he would desire to know where his superior officer 
received authority to give such an order. Just think of 
it, men who have been occupying high places in the National 
Guard for years, questioning at the time for action the 
authority of their superior officers and preventing decisive 
action by misrepresenting the condition and maligning the 
characters of their men. This then was the cause of the 
failure of the operations on the Fourth, and well has it been 
called the " Battle of Sheehan & Co's Bluff." 



66 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The garbled manner in which the occurrences of the Fourth 
were presented to the public by the press was disgusting to the 
last degree. From their accounts one would think that the 
men could fire or use the bayonet at will, instead of being a 
disciplined body under superior officers, subject to their com- 
mands in the minutest particular, and had no option but to 
obey orders, when they received them. The inefficiency of the 
National Guard was the subject of editorials ; and it seemed 
to be a great disappointment to the press that the depot on 
the Fourth was not a scene of frightful carnage. Had the 
order come to fire the men would most certainly have fired, 
the result would have been a slaughter, and then in the col- 
umns of every newspaper in the country we would be branded 
as red-handed, bloodthirsty murderers. The newspapers even 
went so far as to cast reflections on the loyalty of the Guard; 
this to men who left their peaceful callings at the call to arms, 
left their homes, severed every attachment, every business 
connection, left weeping parents, wives, brothers and sisters, 
traveled by night, marched by day, and stood under a broiling 
sun for hours, ready to do the bidding of their superiors, and 
then to have their loyalty brought into question, this was too 
much. One enterprising Sacramento paper came out with the 
disquieting information "That it was rumored the strikers 
were going to use dynamite, but, with discretion," that was 
comforting, they would use dynamite "with discretion." The 
brainy reporter then, to seek a confirmation or denial of the 
rumor, called upon Mr. Knox, the leader of the strikers, and 
asked him if they were going to use dynamite, with discretion ; 
of course he said yes. This is a fair sample of some of the 
ridiculous stuff published by the papers. The general tone 
of what did seem reliable and probable brought us to the con- 
clusion that we had come to stay awhile, and that we would 
soon have plenty of work. 

We had now settled down to the regular routine of military 
camp life. The mornings were devoted to guard mount, com- 
pany drills, and battalion drills in the extended order.* The 
men in these drills acquitted themselves with a dash and 
celerity of movement that would do credit to regular 
troops. The face of grim-visaged war was partly shown 
to the people of Sacramento as the battalions of the First 

*To illustrate the last-nam 
camp at Santa Cruz, slmwi 
fire by the entire battalion. 



CAMP AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 



67 



Regiment charged across the Capitol grounds, amid wild 
yells and the rapid reports of the Gatling gun from the far 
off corner of the grounds. They tore through the plowed 
ground, through water, down deep gulleys, up again on the 
other side, and under the blazing sun, continued the charge 
through the brush, until recalled by the whistle of the com- 
mander. In the afternoon we had dress parade. Crowds 
were drawn to the camp to witness these imposing ceremonies. 
A line of sentries, with loaded pieces, was posted round the 
entire camp day and night. Each day the company furnished 
a detail for guard duty. The personnel of these details were 
as follows: Thursday, July 5th, Lieutenant E. C. Lundquist, 
Corporal J. N. Wilson, privates J. Gilkvson, W. J. Flanagan, 
A. H. Freeh, A. Fetz, H. G. Gille, A. C. Gehret, P. J. Kennedy. 
Friday, July 6th, Sergeant B. B. Sturdivant, privates Win. De 
Los Murphy, A. Heeth, Jr., G. H. Heizman, J. S. Keane, H. J. 
Lang, S. Wise, W. S. McKaig. Saturday, July 7th, Captain 
I. B. Cook, Corporal B. E. Burdick, Corporal E. R. Burtis, W. 

D. O'Brien, W. L. Overstreet, C. Perry, H. F. Powelson, R. L. 
Radke. Sunday, July 8th, privates G. H. Radke, H. Sullivan, 

E. M. Stealey, F. Shula, F. J. Sindler, W. H. Tooker. Monday, 
Julv 9th, Lieutenant George Filmer, privates Wm. Unger, R. 
E. Wilson, R. J. Williams, H. C. AVarren, J. R. Wear, L. Zim- 
merman. Tuesday, July 10th, privates H. H. Adams, P. L. 
Bannan, F. Baumgartner, G. L. Claussenius, M. Claussenius. 





CORPORAL EDWIN BUETIS. 




THE VKilLANTES AT 



CHAPTER V. 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 

fHOUGH our time was considerably taken up with 
camp duties there was plenty of time for amusement 
during the long day. Friday, July 6th, saw the birth 
of the Vigilantes. This crowd, made up from the differ- 
ent companies, created any amount of fun. Any one 
1 seen by a Vigilante doing any thing out of the ordinary 
(shaving and hair-cutting were capital offenses) was 
immediately reported; his person was apprehended, and 
brought before the Chief of the Vigilantes, to whom both sides 
of the case were presented, he judging whether the defendant 
was guilty or not. The scales of justice were badly balanced in 
this court, for the unfortunate one was always found guilty. 
Then the joy began, willing hands stripped the victim to the 
waist, he was blacked all over, balanced on his head and the 
State hose turned on him. The Yolo Farmer fell into the 
clutches of these worthies, but not without a heroic struggle ; 
pursued by the ruthless mob, he rushed into his tent and, 
on emerging, gun in hand and bayonet fixed, presented a 
formidable appearance, as, thus armed, he defied his enemies. 
But their numbers were too much for him, he was taken from 
the rear, and borne in triumph to the place of execution. 
After a trial of great brevity, he was stripped to the waist and, 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 69 

while suspended by the ankles, plentifully watered by the hose. 
His Keeley brothers, Lang and Hayes, fearing the same fate, 
made a hurried departure across the park and enjoyed his 
discomfiture at a safe distance. 

Van Sieberst was the next unfortunate; poor Van wasn't 
doing any thing either; but that was just the trouble; he had 
stretched his huge form upon the earth and was indulging in 
the creations of fancy, when a savage tribe of Vigilantes rushed 
upon him, tore him from out his ethereal world and bore him 
to the place of execution. The shriek that Van gave on being 
torn from his world of fancy, was heart-rending. He was 
arraigned before the all-powerful chief of the Vigilantes, who 
inquired, "Why comest this man here? Speak." Thereupon 
a great silence fell upon the assembly and forthwith there 
leapt from out of the throng Tooker, the favorite son of the 
most renowned god of all Work, and thus he spake: "Most 
noble Vigilantes, this man doth never work; to the corporals 
of the all-powerful 'City Guard' he is a constant bane; he 
is ever quick, most noble chief, to lie down, but slow to arise; 
he was never known to shake the blankets of the tents of his 
people. Oh, noble and great-hearted brothers, I bow my head 
with humiliation; he is the laziest man in camp." There- 
upon, throughout that great multitude there arose a loud cry, 
"Him we honor." "Him we make our chief." "Him we 
obey." 

There was much rejoicing among the Vigilantes. And, 
thus it came to pass, that after passing many days and nights 
in lowliness, Van Sieberst, the heaven-descended son of 
Bacchus, became chief ruler of the Vigilante Tribe. Verily, 
I say unto you, that many strange things have come to pass. 

One afternoon, as " Easy " Lundquist was telling an in- 
teresting story to a number of the boys grouped about him 
and stretched upon the ground in the shade of the spreading 
branches of a tree directly facing B street, Jack Wilson, 
breaking through the circle and dropping heavily upon the 
ground, interrupted him with the startling announcement 
that the Vigilantes had just finished with Kelly. A long 
drawn " What, Sergeant Kelly? " centered the attention of the 
crowd upon Herr Freeh. " How did it happen? " he con- 
tinued, in surprise. " Why, it was only yesterday that he de- 
fied a dozen of the company, who wanted to amuse them- 
selves at his expense, to touch him. He did not feel just then 



70 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

like fooling, he said; when he felt that way, why he would tell 
them so, but until then they had better leave him alone. "Did 
the Vigilantes send a committee," further inquired Freeh, " to 
wait upon him and learn his pleasure as to whether it would 
be convenient for him to submit himself to the decrees 
of the Vigilant court ? And did they go down on their knees 
and do homage to him as if he were one of the gods? Did 
they inquire if his hair was combed or his face washed or his 
blouse dusted; or, did they ask him to tell them in case it was 
not convenient for him then to submit to the court, when 
they might come for him and escort him in royal style to the 
place of trial ? Did they — ?" " No," yelled Jack, " they did not 
care for his pleasure, they seized him unawares, hurried him 
to the place of execution, sentenced him, and immediately 
fulfilled it by giving him, as he stood upon his head, four 
buckets of water and a box of blacking." And so, mighty 
is the fall of them that walk on high places. 

The question of bathing now became very important. The 
extreme heat and the general conditions were such that, for 
the preservation of health, some arrangement for bathing was 
necessary. It was not long, however, before the brainy young 
men from Frisco solved the problem. Wire screens, which 
had been used to protect shrubbery, were placed in position 
and fastened together, so as to form a square appartment. 
They were then covered with sheeting to the height of about 
six feet. One end of a government hose was attached to the 
water-pipe; the other was carried over the top of the enclosure. 
The green sod was used for a floor, and the sky for a ceiling. 
A more enjoyable shower bath could not be desired. Two 
strings led from this bath to the pipe about twenty-five feet 
away. To turn the water on, you pulled one string, to turn 
it off, you pulled the other. This bath was always well 
patronized. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. 

The small annoyances of this life are sometimes the most 
aggravating. The little whiskers on Dick Radke's chin had 
worried us for some time. On this day we caught him strok- 
ing them. There is a limit to all patience. We rose in our 
might and removed them, after an ineffectual struggle on his 
part. Private Freeh's well-dyed, tiny mustache came near 
meeting the same fate, but he would make no resistance and 
only begged for the privilege of removing it himself, so we 
spared the mustache. 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 71 

A number of guns were accidentally discharged while we 
were in camp on the Capitol grounds. None of the accidents, 
however, were attended with such frightful results as that 
of the Fourth of July, though there were several narrow 
escapes. Corporal Burtis gave the order to load while stand- 
ing in front of his squad (he should have been in the rear). 
One of the pieces accidentally discharged, the ball entering the 
ground about twelve inches in front of him. He will never 
stand in front of a squad again and give the order to load. 
Private Hayes, also had a close " shave " one night when on 
picket duty, the rifle of the man next to him being discharged 
very close to his head. This is one of the great dangers to be 
guarded against, A man cannot be too careful when he has a 
loaded gun in his hands. The gun should be always carried 
with the muzzle up, but, when loading, the muzzle should be 
pointed to the ground. Do not staud in front of a man when 
he is loading his gun ; watch yourself and those around you. 
Every man should be well grounded in these principles by 
his instructor. 

About this time the sick and dying telegrams came pour- 
ing in from anxious parents. The mail was too slow for 
messages like these : 

" Dear Charlie: 

Mother dying, come home at once. 

Father." 
or 
" Dear Willie: 

Father very sick, not expected to live, come home at once. 

Sister." 

" Come home at once" was the largest part of telegrams 
whose brevity made the hair curl. The wires were kept hot 
with these missives. It looked very much as if there was 
going to be a boom in the undertaking business in San 
Francisco, and that many of the National Guard would soon 
be orphans. The letters received by the boys from their 
mothers were generally very tearful, each fond mother pray- 
ing for the speedy and safe return of her darling boy. There 
were a few exceptions, however, one of our boys receiving a 
letter that was worthy the Spartan mother. She called upon 
him to do his duty manfully and courageously; she hoped 
that his conduct in time of danger would reflect credit upon 
himself and company. We are happy to say of him that he 
is a worthy son of such a mother, for he performed his duties, 
at all times fearlessly and well. 



72 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Clifford, Al Ramra and Jack Wilson were standing in front 
of No. 1 tent, having a little argument as to which of the 
favorite resorts along the San Francisco route made the best 
cocktails, when they heard strange sounds coming as if it 
were from the ground beneath their feet. They got down on 
their hands and knees, and, with ears pressed to the earth, 
listened. They had about come to the conclusion that the 
noise came from the water-pipe, which ran along the front of 
the tents about four inches underground, when Perry, keeper 
of the key, and Willie Overstreet, who had been sitting be- 
neath the tree at the head of the street discussing the dyna- 
mite rumors, approached attracted by the strange actions of 
their comrades. An idea, Clifford, he has them on tap. In a 
stage whisper, of which Henry Irving would be proud, 
he said, " keep quite boys, I hear them talking." This gave 
Al and Jack the cue, and with grave faces they held their 
ears to the ground. " What's the matter " ? asked Overstreet, 
while Perry looked on with staring eyes and open mouth. 
" They are undermining the camp said Ramm in a sepulchral 
tone. " We'll all be blown up by dynamite," wailed Jack 
Wilson. " Hush," said Clifford, with upraised hand, " I just 
heard one of them ask the other for a match to light his 
pipe." In a trice Perry and Overstreet had their ears glued 
to the ground. What Perry heard confirmed his worst fears. 
He was in the act of dashing off to the General's tent to give 
the alarm, when they caught and held him. They reasoned 
with him. "Any premature action," they said, " might be 
the death of them all. They must be very circumspect, as 
the strikers might be watching their every movement, and, 
should their suspicions be aroused, the earth might open up 
at any moment and the whole camp be blown skyward." It 
was finally decided that a committee be appointed to wait 
upon the General after dark and break the dreadful news to 
him, as gently as possible, for he was hardly over the effects 
of his late illness, poor man, and nervous prostration might 
be the result. All that afternoon the new danger which 
menaced the camp, was the subject of discussion. The rela- 
tive powers of giant powder and dynamite were debated; 
Clifford declaring that enough dynamite could be put into the 
mine to blow the camp, and even the Capitol itself, off the face 
of the earth. The nervous strain Perry and Overstreet were 
under all the afternoon was comical to see, particularly Perry, 
who tugged excitedly at a mustache that wouldn't make a 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 73 

decent pair of eyebrows. Night came on. It was growing 
late. Quiet had settled o'er the camp. All lights were out, 
save the candle that burned dimly in Jack Wilson's tent. 
Wilson had retired to his blankets, but Perry and Overstreet 
still sat up, talking over the events of the day. For them 
there was no sleep. The silence of the camp was now oppress- 
ive and deathlike, when suddenly Billy O'Brien burst into 
the tent, breathless and wild eyed, saying, that the Colonel 
had ordered him to get twelve men to dig into the mine, and, 
as they were awake they should at once report to Lieutenant 
Lundquist, in the Captain's tent, and be supplied with pick 
aud shovel. Counseling them to make no noise for their 
lives and to hurry, he dashed off again. Poor Overstreet, 
gave a deep groan and nearly fainted, while Jack Wilson 
said, he did not like the job a bit, springing dynamite mines 
was not in his line ; he wished that he was at home, but, 
as he was ordered, he supposed he'd have to go. Perry said 
nothing, but was doing some powerful thinking. Jack left 
them and proceeded to the Captain's tent, where a crowd 
of choice spirits were collected, awaiting the coming of 
Charley. And he came buttoned and belted, with a baj^onet 
at his side, ready to do or die. He saluted the Lieutenant, 
with nervous rapidity, no less than seventeen times. The 
Lieutenant, who had his head hidden behind a newspaper, 
was doing his best to control his feelings; but when Charley 
asked for a shovel he could stand it no longer, and burst 
into a roar of hearty laughter, which was joined in by the 
rest of the merry crowd. Charley, seeing it w T as a joke, beat 
a hasty retreat to his tent, and was soon locked in the arms 
of Morpheus. 

As, during the campaign, we had to do our own washing 
we utilized our buckets at first, but soon found them too 
small for the ever-increasing wash. At the suggestion of 
Jack Gilkyson, a collection was taken up and a fine washtub 
and board were soon in operation. The washing, which was 
spread npon the tents and hung upon the guy ropes to dry, 
gave the street the appearance of a Chinese w r ash-house in full 
blast. On one occasion Sam Wise had just washed his socks ; 
a little to the rear of his tent where the operation was per- 
formed Lang, Hayes, and a few others were stretched upon 
the grass. One and all thanked Sam for what he had done. 
Lang, to vary the monotony, threw a very soft peach at Hayes, 
which struck him in the ear and spread in all directions. 



74 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORLIA. 

Hayes seized Lang, and, in the struggle which followed, they 
neared the bucket which contained the soapy w r ater in which 
Sam had just washed his socks. At this opportune moment, 
Hayes had Lang in a very advantageous position; reaching 
out he upset the contents of the bucket over Lang's head, 
and then did some very pretty sprinting, with Lang in hot 
pursuit. In their path stood another bucket of water, which 
Laug picked up and threw with a wild swish at the fleeing 
Hayes; but the bucket turned in his hands and he received 
the contents in the neck. Dripping with water he picked 
up a scantling, the size of himself, and continued the pursuit; 
but the fleet Hayes had by this time reached a place of safety. 

Lang, when on sentry duty, was the admiration of all the 
boys, he looked so much like a regular, straight and stiff as a 
pikestaff, and about as stout. The way he brought people to 
a halt was enough to bring on heart trouble. When he saluted 
an officer he brought his piece to the carry with a snap that 
startled the horses in the street. His great ambition was to 
become an orderly for General Ruger. 

This brings us to the great indignity which was put upon 
the Keeley Club, an indignity that will be remembered by its 
members as long as the memory of it lasts. Their High 
Priest Lang and P. J. Kennedy, another prominent officer in 
the organization, were summoned to Quartermaster duff s 
tent. From this tent all good things flowed, particularly 
the beer. Visions of oceans of it, enough to satisfy even 
their thristy souls floated before their sight. With light 
hearts and willing steps, they sped towards the tent. Yes, 
there was the keg, clothed in a bag of ice, just discernible 
within its shade. Its bright brass faucet shining in the dis- 
tance like a star of hope. See! the quarter-master is slowly 
drawing a bowl of the amber fluid; ah! how refreshing it 
looks. The feet that would rather run than walk on such 
occasions soon brought them to their destination. They 
saluted in their best style; the quartermaster saluted. Lang's 
face broke into its most insinuating smile, while the Yolo 
Farmer mopped the perspiration from his classic brow with a 
linen napkin, and remarked that it was very warm. All this 
time the quartermaster was sipping his beer with exasperating 
leisure ; between sips making very commonplace queries. He 
remarked that Lang looked very thin, but that Kennedy 
seems to be getting stouter if anything. Great God! their 
tongues were cracking. Would he never get through, and 






THE VIGILANTLS AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 



75 



invite them to slake their burning thirst ? But everything 
has an end. Finally with a sigh of satisfaction he put down 
his glass, and disappeared from before the wondering eyes of 
Lang and Kennedy into his tent, from which he soon emerged, 
pick in one hand and shovel in the other, and placing them 
in the passive hands of our now paralyzed comrades, bade 
them follow him. Some fifty feet away he halted, pointed 
to the ground and commanded, " Dig," and they dug. For 
hours these gentlemen, strangers to hard work, delved into 
the earth, under a broiling sun, like common laborers. 




THE YOLO FARMER AND HIGH PRIEST AT WORK. 



The boys' funds were getting low about this time ; in fact a 
great many left town without any funds, at all. Clifford was 
known to be in a chronic state of financial debility. When he 
marched down the street jingling in his pocket a bunch of 
keys which sounded like many silver dollars crying forth, 
" spend me"; he was questioned on all sides as to where he 
made the raise. " Oh " ! said he, " I've just been up to 
Adjutant Williams' tent, and got a little advance." " What" ! 
they exclaimed, and waiting for no more they immediately 
made a bee line for the adjutant's tent. The adjutant loves 
a joke as much as any one, and, though puzzled at first, soon 



76 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

understood and put the boys off with various excuses. He told 
Billy O'Brien, who was a most earnest applicant, that the pay- 
master had a breakdown on his way to camp, and would not 
arrive for some time. Billy went away, and when surrounded 
by his tent-mates, who anxiously inquired as to his success, 
quoted the following lines from Charles O'Malley, the Irish 
Dragoon, for their delectation: 

" And though up late an' airly 
Our pay conies so rarely 
That divil a farthing we 've ever to spare. 
They say some disaster 
Befell the paymaster 
Ton me conscience I think the money's not there." 



Very late Saturday night we were joined by the great 
artist on the tin whistle, and star Dutch comedian, Doc 
Sieberst, and private William O'Malley, attached to the 
hospital corps. Doc was besieged for news from all sides. 
Hayes did his best to lure him into the Keeley tent, where a 
small riot was in progress; but the providence that is said 
to watch over children and drunken men had the Doc in mind 
that night. We saw the famous tin whistle gleaming in the 
moonlight through the lacings of his leggings, and ever after 
our marches, to and from town, were enlivened by its music. 
The boys were all delighted next morning to see the honest, 
open-work Irish face of O'Malley amongst them. Up to this 
time we had no wires attached to the hospital tent. Now 
things were different. A lot of us got taken very badly with 
malaria, and every morning we went to the hospital tent to 
get our quinine. 

Among the members of the City Guard it is a case of one 
for all, and all for one; and Doc O'Malley's connection with the 
hospital tent brought joy to B street in more ways than one. 
Beer was plentiful in the hospital tent ; the doctors not only 
drank it themselves, but required an extra allowance for the 
patients. Under these conditions, however, patients increased 
at such an alarming rate that the Doctors decreed that beer 
was bad for the sick, and consequently they had to drink the 
extra allowance themselves. Though men of great capacity 
they were unable to get away with two barrels daily. This 
fact was known to O'Malley, who imparted it to the good- 
natured and burly Teuton Rupp. In the dead of night Rupp 
stole forth, bucket in hand, and, after a careful reconnoissance, 
invaded the hospital quarters. He soon returned to the street 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 77 

with the bucket full of the foaming beverage ; then beneath 
the folds of the Keeley tent followed a scene of subdued but 
exquisite enjoyment. The bucket empty, Rupp and High 
Priest Lang sallied forth again, with a parting request from 
Corporal Burdick to bring the keg aloug this time. Lang, with 
fine sarcasm, asked him if the contents of the keg would n't 
do him? This time the keg was emptied, and the return of 
Rupp and Lang was the occasion of renewed enjoyment. 

Monday, July 8th, we went swimming in a body. Arrange- 
ments had been made with the bath-house keepers the day 
previous by Lieutenant Filmer, every thing was lovely. The 
boys had a great time plunging and diving in the tank, and 
playing tricks on one another. It was here discovered that 
the brave and fearless Gille was the greatest of cowards in the 
water. Antonelli has dallied so long with other liquids that 
water is an unknown quantity to him, particularly a tank of 
it; and any attempt to duck him completely stampeded him. 
His frantic efforts to get away from his pursuers were the 
cause of much hilarity. This aversion to water is strictly 
Democratic in its character. 

This night we were reinforced by Tommy McCulloch, 
another young man with pill-rolling aspirations. We have 
taken time by the forelock and already call him and his side 
partner, O'Malley, Doc. 

Monday morning the following proclamation was issued by 
President Cleveland : 

Whereas, by rexson of unlawful obstructions, combinations, and assemblages of 
persons it has become impracticable, in the judgment of the President, to enforce by the 
ordinary course of judicial proceedings the laws of the United States within the 
State of Illinois, and the city of Chicago, within said State ; and 

Whereas, that for the purpose of enforcing the faithful execution of the laws of 
the United States in the State and city aforesaid the President has employed a part 
of the military force of the United States, 

Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of United States, do hereby ad- 
monish all good citizens and persons who may be or may come within the city and 
State aforesaid against aiding, countenancing, encouraging, or taking part in such 
unlawful obstructions, combinations, and assemblages; and I hereby warn all persons 
engaged in or in any way connected with such unlawful obstructions, combinations, 
and assemblages to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, on or 
before twelve o'clock noon of the ninth day July, inst. 

Those who disregard this warning and persist in taking part with a riotous mob in 
forcibly resisting and obstructing the execution of the laws of the United States, or 
interfering with the functions of the Government, or destroying and attempting to 
destroy the property belonging to the United States, or under its protection cannot 
be regarded otherwise than as public enemies. Troops employed against such riot- 
ous mobs will act with all moderation and forbearance consistent with the accom- 
plishment of the desired end, but the necessities that confront them will not with 
certainty permit discrimination between guilty participants and those who are 



78 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

mingled with them from curiosity and without intent. The only safe course, there- 
fore, for those not actually and lawfully participating is to abide at their homes or at 
least not to be found in the neighborhood of riotous assemblages. 

While there will be no hesitation or vacillation in a decisive treatment of the 
guilty this warning is especially intended to protect and save the innocent. 

In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the United 
States to be hereto affixed. Done at the City of Washington this eighth day of 
July, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety-four, and of the Independ- 
dence of the United States of America the one-hundred and eighteenth. 

By the President, GROVER CLEVELAND. 

W. Q. Gresham, Secretary. 

All day, Monday and Tuesday, the President's proclamation 
was the absorbing topic of conversation. We felt, that it was 
no more nor less than a declaration of war against the existing 
state of lawlessness, and that the long-threatened storm was 
soon to break. That we were to be reinforced by the regu- 
lars was now an assured fact, and their arrival was looked 
for daily. The flame from the torch of the strikers, that had 
laid property, worth millions of dollars, in ashes at Chicago 
leaped to the telegraph wires and swept across the country, 
firing the Sacramento strikers with a reckless spirit of lawless- 
ness and a resolution to sustain their position at any cost and 
by any means. We felt that our present inaction would soon 
give way to more stirring scenes, the serious nature of which 
would admit of little joking. 

During all this excitement the leaders of the Keeley Club 
were very busy spreading the principles of their doctrine; and 
were so successful that numbers of applications for admission 
to the charmed circle of the flowing bowl were daily received. 
Tuesday morning, after receiving their usual doses of malaria- 
killing quinine from the hands of Dr. O'Malley, High Priest 
Lang, Drs. Kennedy, Hayes and Burdick had a short consulta- 
tion, and decided to take immediate action with reference to 
the applications that had been received. Secretary Hayes 
was instructed to inform all the applicants that an open 
meeting of the Keeley Club would be held that afternoon at 
two p. m. in the German tent. 

The occupants of the German tent at once began to make 
preparations for the reception and entertainment of their 
distinguished guests. A collection was taken up and William 
Baumgartner intrusted with the perilous task of buying a 
keg of beer, and transporting it to the tent. This he did with 
much boldness and address. The meeting of the Keeley Club 
was now an assured success. Two o'clock found an overflow 
gathering at the German tent. With the diplomatic view of 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 79 

getting those present in the proper state of mind for what 
was to follow, to prepare the soil, as it were, for the seed, Dr. 
Burdick suggested, that as the heat was very great, and every 
one in a chronic state of thirst, it would be well to serve some 
liquid refreshments. This suggestion met with approval from 
all sides and "Punch" Zimmerman did Trojan work for the 
next ten minutes at the tap. With a few well-chosen remarks 
Al Heeth presented the Hon. Dr. Lang, High Priest of the 
Inner Circle of the Flowing Bowl, whose appearance was 
greeted with a hearty round of applause. The learned doc- 
tor, in an eloquent address, punctured by applause, and 
numerous invitations to imbibe, which he did not let the 
dignity of his office prevent him from accepting, dwelt on the 
history of the Keeley Club, past and present, comparing the 
present gathering to the Bacchic meetings and revels of the 
dim and classic past, and growing poetic quoted from "Alex- 
ander's Feast," by Dryden : 

"The praise of Bacchus, then the sweet musician sung, 
Of Bacchus ever fair, and ever young. 
The jolly god in triumph comes, 
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums; 
Flushed with a purple grace 
He shows his honest face; 

Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he cornea, 
Bacchus, ever fair and young, 
Drinking joys did first ordain; 
Bacchus' blessings are a treasure, 
Drinking is the soldiers' pleasure; 
Rich the treasure 
Sweet the pleasure 
Sweet is pleasure after pain." 

Returning to the living present he spoke of the many 
enduring benefits derived from being a member of the Keeley 
Club. He said that it filled him with great pleasure to see 
that the efforts of himself and associates were not in vain, the 
attendance showed the sympathy and interest that was taken 
in the movement by the applicants. Furthermore, he 
thought it would be well , on account of the number of appli- 
cations, to form the club into branches, and that the first 
branch be called the German branch in honor of the tent in 
which it was formed. This suggestion met with hearty 
approval, and the work of organization was immediately 
begun. At the expiration of the solemn ceremonies con- 
nected therewith Private Flanagan of the Irish tent arose, 
and, after congratulating the learned doctors of the Keeley 
Club on the success of the meeting, invited all present to 



80 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

attend a pink tea that would be held in his tent that evening 
at eight p. m. Dr. Lang arose, and, with a breast heaving 
with suppressed emotion, said that he felt gratified and 
honored that his efforts and the efforts of his comrades had 
met with the distinguished approval of a gentleman who 
could boast of such royal lineage as Mr. Flanagan. The lib- 
eral invitation extended to all betrayed the true prince's heart, 
and, on behalf of the members of the Keeley Club, he accepted 
the invitation with great pleasure. 

The members of the Irish tent for the rest of the day were 
actively engaged making preparations for the evening's enter- 
tainment, and not until a certain dark object was rolled be- 
neath the flap of their tent did they cease their labors. Soon 
after supper those desirous of getting front seats began to 
arrive, among them being Van Sieberst, Gillie, Dick Radke, 
Sam Wise, and Jimmy Wear. By eight o'clock the tent was 
crowded to suffocation; the flaps were then raised, so that 
those who could not get in could hear and see. In the middle 
of the tent, resting on a cracker-box, was a mysterious object, 
draped in a flaming red comforter, a color dear to the heart 
of every true Keeley. Upon this object the eyes of all were 
centered, and many and varied were the comments concerning 
it. Henry Adams said that it was so short and broad it 
might be a statue of Grover Cleveland. " That's about the 
size of him," said Doc O'Malley, who had seen Grover from a 
distance during his short stay in Washington a year pre- 
vious. "Mentally or physically"? inquired Max Claussenius, 
who likes to delve in the abstract. But the way some of the 
boys cuddled up to it was sufficient proof that it was not a cold 
and lifeless statue, and the general conclusion was that it 
must be the pink tea. Mr. Bannon made the address of 
welcome, and, amid wild applause, unveiled that which had 
been the object of so much curiosity, revealing a nice, plump 
keg of hop juice. Jimmy Wear, by acclamation, was placed 
in charge of the liquid refreshments, and spent a very busy 
fifteen minutes. After a few variations on the whistle by 
Doc Sieberst, Dr. Kennedy arose and stated that on account 
of the extreme hoarseness of Dr. Lang, occasioned by his 
oratorical efforts during the day, he had been requested to say 
something in reply to the graceful remarks of Mr. Bannon. 
After speaking in complimentary terms of the nature of the 
entertainment, and the large audience present, he referred to 
the absence of Sergeant Kelley, Privates Crowley and Hayes, 



THE VIGILANTES AT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS. 81 

who were called away to do extra picket duty ,and who were 
at that moment, with sleepless and vigilant eye, guarding the 
camp. He said, that greatly pleased as he was with the 
result of the afternoon's work, it would be a crowning joy 
could he this evening create the nucleus of another branch 
of the beloved order, and advanced the idea that had been 
put into effect with so much enthusiasm in the afternoon by 
the members of the German tent, and call the new branch, 
the Irish branch. (Prolonged applause.) Continuing, he 
dwelt upon the happy results obtained by belonging to the 
organization, and the great benefits from an intellectual point 
of view; to breathe the same air, imbibe the same liquids 
with such intellectual giants as Dr. Burdick, Antonelli 
Gille, Sam Wise, and Joe Keene would result in per- 
meating them with all the knowledge of the ancients 
and moderns, books could be thrown to the wind while 
sitting at the base of such monuments of learning. Amid 
the wildest applause Mr. Flanagan gravely arose, like a knight 
of old, and thus addressed the assembly. He said he was 
satisfied that the forming of the branch suggested by Mr. 
Kennedy, would meet with the hearty approval of every man 
in the Irish tent. As for himself he had been always a Keely 
at heart, their principles had at all times filled him with ad- 
miration. The organization that contained in its by-laws 
that shining legend, "An invitation to imbibe is always 
in order." deserved the commendation of every thinking man. 
He had only one request to make, and that was, that the circle 
composed by the members of his tent be called after his great 
ancestor, Ireland's greatest king, Brian Boru. The enthusi- 
asm at this point beggars description ; the stirring words of 
Mr. Flanagan brought every man to his feet, and, amid great 
cheering, a bumper was drank to the welfare of the Brian 
Boru Lodge, of the Irish Branch of the Keeley Club. Through 
the storm of cheering the inspiring air, of " The Harp that 
Once Through Tara's Halls," burst upon the gathering ren- 
dered by Doc Sie.berst on the tin whistle. After order was 
restored the initiating ceremonies were gone through, and 
the rest of the evening given up to song and recitation. 

Taps put an end to their revelries, and, after many congrat- 
ulations on all sides, each man went to his tent and soon the 
stillness of the night settled o'er the camp. 



82 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



This silence was suddenly broken in upon by an uproar 
created by Sam Wise. Sam had gotten a little mixed when 
he retired, and, instead of disposing his body inside the tent, 
had become turned about and the most part of him was 
sticking out through the rear of the tent into G's street. A 
guard passing down the street stumbled and fell on him. Sam, 
thinking he was being assaulted by the enemy made such a 
violent effort to beat off the imaginary foe, that he nearly 
dragged the tent down upon his comrades, at the same time 
yelling lustily for help. It was some time before he was 
quieted, and finally fell asleep. 

Thus did this day come to a close, a day that will shine 
forever in the annals of the Keeley Club, a day crowded with 
pleasant memories, a day on which two lusty branches had 
put forth from the parent trunk, to grow, to blossom, and to 
bear fruit. 







CHAPTER VI. 

GENERAL EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE. 



bN the previous chapters we have treated of the situa- 
tion and the movements as confined to Sacramento. 
It is now our purpose to declare an intermission and 
treat of the situation as represented in other parts of 
the country as well as in other parts of California, 
thus bringing the different threads of the same move- 
^ ment to an equal level, before taking up the thread of 
the narative again in Sacramento. 
The strike involved three-fourths of the United States, and 
it was not long before it passed the bounds of legality. No 
unprejudiced person will ever deny to the workingman the 
right to strike; and, as long as he confines his labor troubles 
within the strict letter of this right, positive advancement 
can not fail to attend his efforts; but, when he adds to 
this acknowledged right the right to indulge in acts of 
incendiarism, robbery and even murder, then defeat will 
surely be his goal. Never before, in the history of the coun- 
try, with the exception of the Civil War, was the United 
States ever menaced by a movement so fraught with danger 
and terror as this. It had become something of far greater 
importance than a mere quarrel between railroad corpora- 
tions and their employees over a matter of wages; it amounted 
to an armed rebellion against the laws of the United States. 
Good men shuddered as they caught glimpses in the struggle 
of a future condition of affairs in which anarchy would reign 



84 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

supreme, and in which the stability of our government would 
be shaken to its foundation. Let us hope that this will never 
be; but rather, that the workingman will see that this form of 
government, which is essentially for the people and by the 
people, and his own development depend upon the adaptation 
of his growth to the growth of the laws. All over the coun- 
try the lawlessness of the strikers was something fearful. The 
extent to which desperate men will go and the violent deeds 
they will resort to when their evil passions are aroused pass- 
eth all understanding. They lose all respect for the laws; 
and the dread consequences which attend their infringement 
have no terrors for them. They are inspired with a hatred 
for the troops. A National Guardsman is an object of espe- 
cial aversion to them. When defeat stares them in the face 
they will work out their disappointment upon innocent per- 
sons, and the torch of incendiarism applied almost indiscrim- 
inately to property, with pillage and carnage, illuminate the 
last scenes of the conflict. 

The state of affairs in the other affected cities of the East 
was but a reflection of the situation in Chicago, and, as it 
would be utterly impossible to give within the present limits 
of this work a separate account of the strike and its effects in 
each of these places, and further, as there is a universal resem- 
blance in the effects of the strike throughout every affected 
section of the country, it will be sufficient for an intelligent 
understanding of the situation in the East to give in outline 
the situation in Chicago. 

On the same day that the regulars were ordered to Los 
Angeles the Federal troops stationed at Fort Sheridan were 
ordered into Chicago. This force was steadily increased until 
it amounted to a thousand men under the command of Gen- 
eral Miles. Concerning the occupancy of Chicago by the 
regulars a wordy dispute arose between the Governor of Illi- 
nois and the President of the United States. Governor 
Altgeld, in protesting against the presence of the troops in 
Chicago, stated that it was an invasion of State rights. Illi- 
nois, he said, had enough troops of her own to quell any dis- 
turbance that might arise within her borders. President 
Cleveland, however, maintained in his position, by Attorney 
General Olney, refused to withdraw the troops, as he deemed 
their presence necessary for the execution of the laws. The 
National Guard of Illinois was not really called out until later 
in the struggle. The regulars found little difficulty in dis- 



GENERAL EFFECTS. OO 

persingthe strikers ; but the dispersions only had a tendency 
to drive the strikers to other points where they continued 
their depredations. Beside the regulars there was a small 
body of militia in the field. But, in spite of this force, the 
strikers seemed all powerful and masters of the situation; 
for when the city's health was threatened by the stench that 
arose from the dead carcasses remaining uncarted away at 
the stockyards, the Mayor of Chicago, in order to have them 
removed by rail, was forced to appeal to Debs for permission 
to do so. Rioting also went on apparently unchecked. In 
the suburbs of Chicago numerous fires were seen blazing. 
The yard of the Panhandle Railroad Company was put to 
flames and a million dollars' worth of property destroyed. 
The situation in Chicago, on July 6th was heralded by the 
San Francisco Daily Examiner thus : 

FIRE AND PILLAGE 

Wild Work of Destruction by 

Thousands of Rioters 

in Chicago 

From Daylight to Midnight Mobs Hold 
Possession of the Railroad Yards 



The Torch Applied to Hundreds of Cars and Un- 
told Quantities of Merchandise Destroyed 



Six Persons Killed and Innumerable Wounds From 
Clubs, Bayonets, and Rooks The Day's Record 



A WILD CARNIVAL OF CRIME 



86 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

On account of the troops in the field being insufficient to 
hold the strikers and prevent them from destroying property 
Mayor Hopkins called upon Governor Altgeld for further 
military assistance. So, on July 6th, two brigades of the 
National Guard, Illinois, were ordered into Chicago. 

On July 7th the strikers had their first conflict with the 
National Guard, and the streets of Chicago became moistened 
with blood. A mob of strikers, 8,000 strong, bent on mischief 
was gathered around the Grand Trunk round-house with the 
intention of burning the same. Company F, of the Second 
Infantry, National Guard Illinois, commanded by Captain 
Kelly, was ordered to the spot, and succeeded for a time in 
forcing the crowd back. The mob becoming larger and more 
aggressives the troops began to withdraw and in a corre- 
sponding degree as the troops withdrew the strikers became 
more abusive, and finally commenced to throw bricks, stones, 
chunks of coal and coupling-pins at the troops. Under this 
heterogeneous fire the men behaved nobly and remained under 
the strict control of their officers. Several times the advance 
of the mob was stopped by being steadily met with elevated 
rifles. But patience is an exhaustible quantity, so, when the 
second lieutenant of the company was struck upon the head 
by several stones and felled to the ground, the men were im- 
mediately given the command to charge. One of the strikers 
with his hand in the air, in the very act of throwing a chunk 
of coal, had a bayonet plunged through his body. The mob 
gave away before the charge, but quickly rallied and discharged 
a number of shots at the troops. No further orders were 
needed by the men. Rifles were leveled and a sheet of lead 
mowed down the front rank of the strikers. The mob then 
fled in the wildest confusion. Too much credit cannot be 
bestowed upon this company for the manner in which it 
behaved. No company of regular troops ever acquitted them- 
selves with greater honor, and none showed more loyalty and 
courage. May their example be ever imitated by the rest of 
the National Guard. 

On July 8th the President's proclamation was issued, the 
text of which has been set forth in the previous chapter. 
From this time on the strike in Chicago and in the East 
moved gradually toward the catastrophe, while on the surface 
it appeared all the time to be getting greater in magnitude. 
A new element which resembles somewhat the last kick of 



GENERAL EFFECTS. 87 

the mule was now about to enter upon the stage. Presi- 
dent Sovereign of the Knight's of Labor threatened to in- 
augurate a general strike. A sympathetic strike, to be 
a factor in the settlement of a direct strike, must be so re- 
lated to it as to directly influence the person against whom 
the direct strike is waged, either by preventing him from 
manufacturing his goods or else from disposing of them. But 
when workmen threaten to inaugurate sympathetic strikes of 
the third, fourth, or fifth degree, which can only affect the 
person against whom the direct strike is waged in an indirect 
way, if it affects him at all, they threaten to inaugurate move- 
ments which contain within themselves the germs of suicide. 
How absurd it is to inaugurate a strike among the journey- 
men tailors, because their employer furnishes clothes to the 
man who sells groceries to the person who operates mines 
which supply coal to the railroad companies that use Pullman 
cars. This string might run back in ad infinitum. 

The arrest of President Debs on July 10th added another 
force to increase the downward impetus of the movement 
towards the end. This, together with the failure to make 
good the threat to order a general strike and especially the 
proposal made by Debs to the railroad companies, and which 
was not accepted, to declare the strike off provided the men 
were allowed to return to their old positions, gave evidence of 
an early dissolution of the strike. And though the strike was 
not settled until sometime later, and while rioting did not cease 
though it became lesser in degree, until the very end of the 
strike, still the ranks of the strikers from this time on became 
gradually thinned out and the men showed a strong inclina- 
tion to return to work. It might be said that the climax of 
the strike in the East was passed on July 10th. 

And now for the situation in California other than in Sac- 
ramento. The new T s of the success of the strikers in Sacra- 
mento was received enthusiastically by the public all over the 
State. So great was the hatred of the public for the Southern 
Pacific Company and so warm was their sympathy for the 
strikers that when t\ie Examiner, a San Francisco daily, placed 
upon their bulletin-board a notice of the fact that the first 
train that left Sacramento since the commencement of the strike 
had been derailed and a number of soldiers killed, the crowd 
standing in front of the bulletin-board actually cheered for 
what was one of the most heinous crimes ever perpetrated. 



88 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The public seemed to be lost to every sense of right and 
wrong. Upon the great body of strikers the retaining 
possession of the depot against the attempts of a large body 
of the National Guard to dislodge them had a very marked 
effect. It made them very confident and defiant. They 
evidently believed that the possession of the depot was of the 
very greatest importance, and since the first attempt to dis- 
lodge them had resulted so successfully for them, they were 
determined to hold that advantage even though they had to 
meet a further advance of the troops with their own weapons. 
These sentiments were expressed by most of the strikers but 
it was extremely doubtful, whether when the time came, they 
would put them into practice. It is certain that none but the 
most desperate would. 

Dunsmuir and Truckee are conceded to be the hardest rail- 
road towns in California. The situation at both these places 
was very one sided, as none but strikers or their sympathizers 
were allowed to have anything to say. The striking railroad 
employees at these places were of the most desperate kind and 
ready to go to any extreme that they thought would help the 
cause. Thse are the kind of men Leader Knox of the Sac- 
ramento Branch of the American Railway Union turned to 
when it became known that the National Guard had been 
ordered to Sacramento. In response to his call for assistance 
a train bearing 125 strikers fully armed, left Dunsmuir at 
12:20 p. m. on July 4th, while another train with 100 strikers 
equally well armed, left Truckee at 4:20 p. m. on the same 
day. The destination of these trains was Sacramento. Their 
journey was attended by the wildest demonstrations. Through 
every tow r n they passed they were loudly cheered; bonfires 
blazed forth in honor to them and brass bands greeted them 
with the tune "See the Conquering Hero Comes." To show r 
the sentiment of the public toward and the encouragement it 
gave to the strikers to perform lawless deeds, the following 
extracts taken from the daily papers are given. 

Redding. — "Two thousand people greeted the arrival of the train and 
gave the committee assurance of their support with men and money if 
needed." 

"At Red Bluff, Company G of the Eight Regiment Infantry, stationed at 
Willows, was ordered to stop the train containing the strikers coming from 
Dunsmuir. Half the company on receipt of orders proceeded to arm 
themselves and prepared to intercept the train. This action so incensed the 
citizens that they repaired to the station to the number of two hundred, and 
got in readiness to oppose the militia and see that the strikers' train went 
on its way unmolested. A conflict seemed imminent, when the company 



GENERAL EFFECTS. 89 

received orders to return to their armory and disband. "When the train 
arrived, many people of the town and country surrounded it, and amid 
bonfires, firing of cannon, and the playing of a brass band, the A. R. U. men 
were given an oration." 

Cottonwood. — " Thousands of tons of fruit are spoiling here, yet all the 
people in Cottonwood valley sympathize with the A. R. U." 

The military authorities learned of this movement on the 
part of the strikers, and Colonel Park Henshaw was ordered, 
at one o'clock p. m., July 4th, by Major General Dimond, to 
call out the troops of his command and "to intercept and 
arrest the strikers en route from Dunsmuir to Sacramento." 
Colonel Henshaw immediately, upon the receipt of these 
orders, called out Companies A, B, F and G of the Eighth 
Regiment, Infantry, N. G. C. The men responded promptly. 
Two companies were ordered to deploy along the line of Chico 
Creek; one on the east side and the other on the west of the 
road. A twelve pound Parrott gun, loaded "with eight and 
one-half pounds of blasting-powder, the only kind that could 
be procured, and twenty-five pounds of one ounce lead bullets 
and other projectiles," was posted in the middle of the track 
to sweep the strikers' train if it failed to come to a standstill 
at command. Just as they were in a position to achieve a 
notable victory Marshal Baldwin, at Sacramento, fearful that 
a movement like this would precipitate things to such an 
extent that the strikers would retaliate by burning snowsheds 
and destroying bridges, asked that the order, calling upon the 
National Guard to arrest the strikers, be rescinded. This was 
done, and the four companies were ordered back to their 
armories and disbanded. The strikers arrived in Sacramento 
on the fifth of July. 

The strikers began aggressive operations in Oakland on 
July 3d. On this day two trains were seized at Sixteenth 
street and the air-brakes cut. The regular running of the 
local trains w T as stopped; and throughout the day there was 
but a spasmodic service. On July 4th the strikers determined 
to prevent the moving of any trains on the local system. In 
large numbers they invaded the railroad yards at West Oak- 
land, overran them, took possession of the shops, entered the 
offices of the yards and chased out the clerks engaged therein. 
The self-sacrifice of these strikers was worthy of the noblest 
struggle. Like martyrs they were willing to lay down their 
lives for their cause. To prevent the running of the trains 
they threw themselves, a living barricade, upon the track, 
their heads resting upon one rail, their feet upon the other, 



90 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

and opposed to the iron front of the locomotive their bodies, 
unmoved by the fact that their lives depended upon the sim- 
ple pressure of a hand upon the throttle of the engine. This 
was a very dangerous but still an effective method of bring- 
ing trains to a standstill. Engineers and firemen were torn 
from their posts with no gentle hand. The Fourth of July 
saw things settled, until July 13th, as far as the running of 
the local system was concerned. 

On the same day, July 4th, a company of regular soldiers, 
stationed at Benicia, was ordered to Oakland, while Colonel 
Fairbanks, commanding the Fifth Regiment, Infantry, was 
ordered to assemble his regiment at the same place. Owing 
to the fact that no request had been made by the sheriff for 
troops, the six companies of the Fifth Regiment were bivou- 
acked at the armory of Companies A and F of Oakland. 
When the troops arrived in Oakland on the evening of the 
Fourth the situation had become somewhat quieted, and on 
July 5th Colonel Fairbanks was ordered to dismiss Companies 
A, F and G, "until further orders." On July 10th Companies 
C and E — D having been ordered to San Jose — pitched camp 
at Piedmont. 

During this interval, from July 4th to July 13th, the 
strikers remained masters of the situation in Oakland. It 
was not until July 12th, that any signs became evident of a 
movement to contest their position. On this day about two 
hundred sailors and about fifty marines of the United States 
Navy arrived at the Oakland Pier, while on the following 
day the Second Regiment Artillery, N. G. C, Lieutenant Col- 
onel Geary commanding, arrived from San Francisco. 

On July 6th the sheriff of Santa Clara county made a call 
for military assistance, as he had "exhausted all the powers 
of the county and was unable to disperse the mob stationed 
at the depot and yards of the Southern Pacific Company." 
Company D, Captain Elliott, Fifth Regiment, Infantry, then 
at Oakland was ordered to reinforce Company B of the Fifth 
stationed at San Jose. These troops were placed under the 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Whitton. Owing to the 
hesitancy of the sheriff of the county to give an order calling 
for aggressive movements against the strikers, in spite of the 
fact that he was continually urged to do so by Lieutenant 
Colonel Whitton, the troops remained inactive until July 10th, 
bivouacked part of the time at the armory of Company B, and 



GENERAL EFFECTS. 91 

part of the time at the fair grounds. During this time Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Whitton received instructions from Major 
General Dimond telling him how to act in case he was called 
upon to do so, which showed that those officers of the National 
Guard who conducted the operations on the Fourth at Sacra- 
mento were not beyond redemption, there was one redeeming 
feature, they were not too old to learn. Lieutenant Colonel 
AVhitton's instructions advised him, that in case he was or- 
dered to go to the depot, to get the necessary order empowering 
him to use force to clear it, "for," the instruction continued, 
"if you should go to that place and then have to go for an 
order, it might cause a delay that might be disastrous to your- 
self and men." 

On July 10th the troops reinforced by Company C of the 
Naval Reserve, under command of Lieutenant Douglass, were 
ordered to the depot and guards were posted about the round- 
house and a portion of the yards of the Southern Pacific Com- 
pany. The strikers were evidently overawed by the presence 
of the troops, as they made no demonstrations of hostility and, 
though the militia came to no actual conflict with the strikers, 
their presence there was of untold value in keep the riotous 
element in check. Both the railroad officials and the sheriff 
were of the opinion that were the troops dismissed there was 
great danger of a new outbreak. 

San Francisco was not troubled directly to any extent by 
the strikers. Still precautions were taken to prevent them 
from doing any harm. To avert the possibility of the strik- 
ers securing arms by raiding the different armories of the 
National Guard in the city the arms were either removed to 
a safe place, or else the armory was guarded by a strong 
force, both night and day. And further it was deemed advis- 
able to keep the Second Artillery Regiment in the city, to 
guard against the possible massing of the strikers. So it was 
not until later in the campaign — July 13th, that they were 
ordered into the field. 

The southern part of the state now demanded attention. 
So on July 12th Brigadier General Muller, commanding the 
Third Brigade was ordered to proceed with Companies E, F, 
and G of his command to Sumner, and from thence to guard 
the disputed points on the Southern Pacific Railroad, between 
Sumner and Tehachipi, and also to furnish train guards for 
for trains running north. Brigadier General Muller arrived 



92 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

with his command at Sumner on the 13th. In preparing his 
men for active service he met with the same annoyances, but 
in a far greater degree than did the other commands of the 
National Guard. Many rifles were unfit for use, firing pins 
and ejectors being broken, a few old canteens and knapsacks 
were all they could boast off. As for blankets and shoes the 
brigade was poverty stricken. The men were compelled to fit 
themselves the best they could. 

To sum up, the following troops were in active service July 
12th : At Sacramento, the First and Third Kegiments, In- 
fantry ; part of the Signal Corp and a section of Light Bat- 
tery A of the Second Brigade ; Companies A, E, G, Second 
Infantry Regiment ; Light Battery B ; Signal Corp of the 
Fourth Brigade and Companies A and B of the Third Brigade. 
At Oakland, Companies C and E, Fifth Infantry Regiment, 
Second Brigade. At San Jose, Companies B and D, Fifth 
Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade and Company C of the 
Naval Battalion. At Sumner, Companies C, F, G, Sixth 
Regiment, Infantry, Third Brigade. Besides these there were 
six companies of regulars at Los Angeles, one company at 
Oakland, together with two hundred sailors and fifty marines, 
while at Sacramento there were four companies of artillery, 
two companies of calvary and one of infantry. 





--'■■' 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS AND ITS EFFECT UPON 
THE SITUATION. 



I HE second week, that opened up at the Capitol, found 
the men somewhat discontented. There is no rest for 
the wicked ; if the reverse of this be true, that one 
who does not rest is wicked, then all the members of 
Company B are wicked. The conditions were perfect 
for resting ; lying awake during the daytime and 
lying asleep during the night-time made up practi- 
cally the twenty-four hours of each day, of most of the mem- 
bers of the company. And still they were weary. There was 
no rest for them; amidst this almost perfect inactivity they 
yearned to be again at their daily and peaceful callings: 

" The counter and the desk. " 

( I. B. Cook.) 

Any thing to break the stagnation of doing nothing. Besides 
this the men were disgusted with the situation. The strikers 
held the depot while they, who had traveled eighty miles to 
dislodge them from that place, held down the Capitol grounds. 
Every day, since the Fourth, saw the men expectant of march- 
ing upon the depot; every night saw the men disappointed and 
more disgusted. Is it any wonder that the men were discon- 
tented and strongly desirous of leaving the field of strife? 



94 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Inside of the camp of the strikers harmonious relations 
did not prevail. Their temporary victory on the Fourth was 
slowly turning into a defeat. Its effect had been contrary to 
what they had expected. The continued presence of the 
militia at the Capitol, the anouncement that the regulars had 
been ordered to Sacramento, the growing stronger of the 
opposition of the railroad, all tended to show them the hope- 
lessness of expecting to coerce the Southern Pacific Company 
into submission. Beside this, Poverty, the great ally of the 
capitalist, was forcing breaches in their hitherto determined 
front. A number of the strikers counting upon a swift victory 
were ill-prepared to stand a long siege. Many were now se- 
cretly prepared to desert the cause at the first opportunity. 
Compromise by arbritration was talked about, but nothing 
came of it. With some of the strikers, however, the hopeless- 
ness of success only tended to make them more desperate. 
Reinforced by the crowd of armed ruffians from Dunsmuir 
they were preparing themselves to resist every advance 
the troops made against them, even though that resistance 
amounted to bloodshed. Such actions as these could have 
but one result. Instead of bolstering up the cause of the 
strikers it was in reality weakening it. The peaceably inclined 
were repelled from such associates and disavowed their rela- 
tionship with them. How well these desperate individuals 
kept their resolutions will be seen hereafter. 

That things were approaching a crisis was evident by the 
increased precautions taken to guard the camp. It had been re- 
ported that the strikers were preparing to sweep down upon 
the camp and capture the Gatling guns. In order to prevent 
the camp from being surprised by any such movement men 
were selected from each company and detailed to act as 
pickets. They were posted a block beyond the line of senti- 
nels of the camp guard and in such a way that the camp was 
now guarded by a double line of sentinels. By this plan 
it was almost an impossibility for any body of the strikers 
to approach within three hundred feet of the camp with- 
out being detected. Sergeant Kelly, Privates Hayes and 
Crowley were selected from Company B to act in this 
capacity. The strikers on the other hand were also exer- 
cising the greatest vigilance. Every movement made by 
the militia was carefully watched by the strikers' pickets, 
who were always present in the vicinity of the camp, 
and who transmitted any suspicious movement on the part 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 95 

of the troops to their leaders. And, if the movement was 
of sufficient importance, three shrill blasts of a steam whistle 
could be heard; and down all the streets leading to the depot 
strikers could be seen hurrying along to gather there in a 
body. This great vigilance on the part of the strikers seemed 
to give the affair a much more serious aspect than it really 
deserved. The establishing of pickets on both sides added to 
the reality and picturesqueness of the scene. 

All during the week different rumors had been flying around 
camp. First it was, that the militia were going to do this, 
then that; until finally, on account of their proverbial unreli- 
ableness, not much faith was placed in them. So, on July 
10th, when it was rumored about camp that the regulars 
would arrive the following day, and that the militia would 
be ordered to co-operate with them in securing the depot, 
not much dependence was placed upon its authenticity. 
When, however, later in the evening each member of the 
company was notified to hold himself in readiness to be 
called at an early hour in the morning, and to sleep with his 
rifle at his side, it began to look that after all there was some- 
thing in this rumor. It is safe to say that the men retired 
that night praying — that is, those who knew how — that the 
rumor would become a fact. At three a. m. the men of Com- 
pany B were awakened by 1st Sergt. A. F. Ramm, and told to 
dress as quietly and as quickly as possible. This they did. 
Save now and again of the murmur of subdued conversation 
no one would know but what the camp was wrapped in sound 
slumber. On emerging from the tents, an air of mystery 
seemed to be hovering around. The day was just beginning 
to break. The gray dawn almost isolated us from the world 
without. Not a wreath of smoke, that would betoken life 
stirring in the adjacent closely barred houses was visible. 
Now and again could be heard coming along the stone 
pavement, breaking the peculiar stillness of the air, the 
tramp of feet, and some poor unfortunate would emerge 
out of the gray gloom and pass the camp on his way 
to his daily toil. Here and there could be discerned the dim 
form of some vigilant picket. Within the camp men were 
moving noiselessly to and fro. Few lights were discernible. 
Every one seemed to be awake to the necessities of the hour. 
They were preparing themselves for a rapid and noiseless 
movement; so that they would be well on their way towards 
the prospective scene of action before their absence from the 



96 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

camp was made known to the strikers. As one now thinks 
of the events of that morning it seems as if the men were 
preparing 

"To fold their tents like the Arabs; 
And as silently steal away." 

The men were awakened at this early hour, so, that when 
the order for marching did come no time would be lost. 

During the hours of the night while the men slept the 
gods were busy. A load of haversacks and canteens had 
been brought into camp during the night. These haversacks 
and canteens, which are the same as are used in the regular 
army, were distributed among the men, every man receiving 
one of each. Provisions, consisting of canned corned beef. 
0! blessed Corned Beef would that thou wert never made, and 
crackers, were then packed in the haversack for future use, 
while the canteens were filled with coffee. The usual march 
up town for breakfast was omitted this morning and a rough 
and ready meal of sandwiches and coffee was substituted in 
its place. 

While busy with the preparations for marching, the mem- 
bers of the company had failed to notice how silently and 
unperceived the day had crept into existence. The sun was 
now slowly rising. The apparent dead and silent world by 
which the camp had been surrounded was awakening into life. 
The windows of the adjacent houses were being thrown back. 
Chimneys were emitting their smoke. Workmen were pass- 
ing by. Up in the dome of the Capitol could be seen a 
human form waving a hat to and fro; first, several times on 
this side, then on that, then he would poise it for a few sec- 
onds directly in front of him, and then he would commence 
again. Inquiry elicited the fact that he was a member of 
the Signal Corps, and that from his position of vantage he was 
transmitting signals, made by other signalmen stationed at 
the river, to one stationed below on the ground. These mes- 
sages were then carried to headquarters. 

In the mean time preparations had been made to guard the 
camp during the absence of the troops. The various details, 
that composed the camp guard, were relieved and sent back to 
their respective companies. Company H was detailed to take 
their place. 

At 5:30 a. m. the command "Fall in" was given. With the 
haversack and canteen slung over the shoulders, the haver- 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. Vt 

sack on the left side, the canteen on the right, and the 
cartridge belt strapped over both to keep them from interfering 
with the movements of marching by swinging, the company 
presented a picturesque appearance. On the night of our 
departure from the city we were compared to the regulars in 
the morning papers thus: 

"There was a marked contrast between the 675 sunny faced expectant scrambling 
young fellows and the 300 bronzed regulars that swung along the Oakland mole 

with clocklike precision They moved like a machine, passionless, steady, 

with their eyes fixed on one man, the captain. The militia .... went off in a 
happy fashion as if they were starting on an annual summer camping trip. The}' 
laughed and called to each other as they marched along." 

Had the reporter who wrote the above seen the Company on 
this morning he would have recognized that a transformation 
had taken place. He would not have found the contrast so 
obvious. Instead of sunny-faced, expectant, scrambling young 
fellows, he would have found bearded youths, bronzed with 
heat from the sun, determination written on their faces, and 
ready to obey explicitly the orders, be what they may, of their 
Captain. Added to all this, he would discover that the places 
of the holiday and neatly fitting uniforms were taken by worn 
and tattered ones covered with innumerable grease spots and 
dust. The leggings he would see had ceased to be new, while 
the hats he would not have recognized. 

The regiment was formed into two battalions. The first 
battalion was under the command of Major Burdick, the 
second under the command of Major Jansen. Company B 
was the left company of the first battalion. The ambulance 
corps were divided into two sections. One section, under 
the command of Major Galwev, regimental surgeon, was at- 
tached to the first battalion. The other section, under com- 
mand of Captain O'Brien, assistant regimental surgeon, was 
attached to the second battalion. The field music was de- 
tailed as litter bearers. The first battalion marched out of 
the Capitol grounds down L street and took up a position at 
the end of L street, which runs perpendicular to the river. 

The march to the levee showed the week passed at the Capi- 
tol grounds had not been profitless. Its good effects were seen on 
both officers and men. Instead of doing as they did on the 
Fourth, using their aftersight, the officers on this occasion 
used a good deal of foresight. On that memorable day, it will 
be remembered, that no attempt was made to keep the masses 
that obstructed the passage of the troops into the depot from 



98 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

being augmented by constantly arriving forces. This time, 
however, whenever a halt was made, sentinels were immedi- 
ately posted, and no one was allowed to pass through who 
would impede the progress of the troops. 

While the battalion was on the march, and somewhere 
near to the place it was to occupy, men were selected from 
each company and sent forward to act as scouts. Privates A. 
Fetz and Unger were selected from Company B; Fetz was 
sent to the left, while Unger was sent to the right. Both 
were told to patrol along the next streets parallel with the 
march of the battalion, halting whenever the battalion halted. 
Any commotion they observed they were to report to the 
commanding officer of the battalion. The battalion, arriving 
at the point of occupation, was wheeled to the left by fours, 
formed into line, and halted. "Rest" was given, and the 
men, making themselves at ease, proceeded to view their 
surroundings. The ambulance corps, it was discovered, had 
taken up a position in a small alley running at right angles 
to the street of occupation. Here they erected a temporary 
hospital in anticipation of a large number of wounded. The 
young doctors attached to the corps, and especially Drs. 
O'Malley and McCulloch, were anxious to try their instru- 
ments and skill upon some one. On the southeast corner of 
Front and L streets is a large two-story building occupied by a 
hide and pelt establishment. Upon the roof of this building part 
of the signal corps, it was found, had established themselves and 
were busy at work transmitting signals to the captain of the corps 
standing below on the opposite side of the street. To the south 
of the battalion's position, at the intersection of L and First 
streets, Corporal Burdick with a squad of braves (?), consisting 
of Privates Wise, R. Radke, and Sindler, could be seen on duty 
guarding the rear of the position by refusing to allow any one to 
pass without proper authority. Directly in front of the battal- 
ion on Front street, which runs parallel to the river, were 
several trains of freight-cars. Beginning at L street, and run- 
ning to the left towards K street, on Front street, was a long, 
low platform, which was used for handling freight. Upon a 
parallel street, a block to our right, the second battalion was 
posted. The Third Regiment was a block farther up still. 

It was while the company was thus taking in its surround- 
ings that an incident occurred which attracted their attention 
and in which the captain of the Signal Corps and an em- 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 99 

ployee of the hide and pelt establishment figured. It was an 
incident which tended to impress upon the members the 
reality and the seriousness of their position. An employee of 
the hide and pelt establishment was seen by the captain of 
the signal corps in the act of ascending to the roof of the 
building. Feeling that every thing depended upon prompt 
and decisive action, he drew a Colt's revolver, and, pointing it 
at the man on the ladder, cried out sharply, " Come down 
from there." The man turned, looked at the threatening 
revolver, then at the one behind it, grew pale, muttered some- 
thing about pointing a pistol at a man, descended the ladder 
and disappeared within the building. There was no parley- 
ing here about coming down. It was a command that could 
only be disobeyed at the risk of life. The moment between 
the giving of the command and its being obeyed was a 
moment of dead silence; the man's life depended upon the 
twitching of a finger. As the man disappeared the members 
of the company almost unanimously cried out, " That's the way 
to do it." A valuable lesson was inculcated into the members 
which proved of value later in the day. The " boys" saw that 
if they were to accomplish any thing they must be prompt 
and determined. 

Hardly had the undue excitement of the above-mentioned 
incident subsided when attention was attracted to a sort of 
commotion taking place at a point where Corporal Burdick 
was stationed. It seems, from what could be gathered after- 
wards, that a hack drawn by a spirited pair of horses came 
dashing up L street and attempted to pass through tne lines. 
Corporal Burdick, assisted by Private Wise, was not to be 
denied. The horses were brought to a standstill, and Sam 
Wise informed the driver that he couldn't go through. The 
Jehu explained that his business was imperative, his fare 
being none other than the Fourth of July famous United 
States Marshal Barry Baldwin. The marshal had to intro- 
duce himself, however, before he was allowed to go through 
the lines. 

Private O'Brien of Company B, together with several mem- 
bers from Company G, were now ordered by Major Burdick to 
force the crowd that was gathering down Front street until 
they connected with the scouts who had been sent along K 
street. This was done, and a line of sentinels was formed 
diagonally across the intersection of Front and K streets, and 
a busy time they had of it. 



100 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The strange things that some men will do when they have n't 
a gun are beyond all comprehension; but even beyond this is 
the strange thing that O'Malley did this morning without his 
gun. A line of sentinels was established across M street, hold- 
ing at bay a large crowd. Inside of this line our friend, the 
Doctor, with a red cross pinned upon his arm to show his 
superior breed, was pacing impatiently up and down with the 
restlessness of a caged lion, his fierce and terrible mien excit- 
ing terror in the crowd. Occasionally he would pause in his 
wild march and take a few steps towards the panic-stricken 
mob; then, changing his mind, he would turn and continue 
pacing his beat. A dread silence fell upon the multitude. 
Who is this man, this supernatural being? Woe unto me, 
they cried inwardly. Take him away! Their terror was fur- 
ther increased by O'Malley, after casting several dark glances 
from under his heavy, lowering eyebrows, suddenly springing 
forward and grasping one of their number, a big, burly ruf- 
fian, by the throat. Dragging him forward O'Malley fiercely 
shouted : 

" Give me your gun." 

" I have n't any," screamingly replied the fellow, falling 
upon his knees and beseeching mercy with uplifted hands. 

'•You lie, darn you"! And jerking the fellow to his feet 
O'Malley put his hand into the man's pocket and drew out a 
small-sized Gatling gun. 

"Now vamoose," he said, emphasizing the words with a 
kick that hastened the departure. 

The crowd, on seeing what had happened, cried out, "A 
devil"! and fled in the wildest confusion.* 

The signalmen, by rolling up their paraphernalia and de- 
scending from the roof, indicated that the regulars had landed. 
This was verified by a low rumbling noise coming from Front 
street. The battalion was called to " attention" just as the 
regulars, headed by Colonel Graham, turned into L street. 

The battalion was brought to " present arms." As the regu- 
lars marched past on the way to the depot each man involun- 
tarily made a comparison between the National Guardsman 
and the regular. And it is safe to say that the result was not 
overwhelmingly in favor of the regular. True, the regular 
on the average, is a larger and an older man, and walks 

* This above account was written by O'Malley, and therefore the committee do 
not certify to its accuracy. O'Malley, however, is generally truthful. 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 101 

with a more deliberate and measured stride. But what of 
this? The militia has a quicker and a more sprightly step. 
Besides this, the National Guardsman lacks the dull passive- 
ness which characterizes the face of the regular, and which 
is so often taken by the public for determination. But this 
is not determination. Determination is measured by the 
strength of the will. The militiaman may not move like a 
passionless machine, but that very life which shines forth 
from his eyes is the thing that in the hour of danger is going 
to generate such an amount of determination that the regu- 
lar can never possess. 

The regulars this morning presented a very dirty appear- 
ance, both men and uniforms being covered with dust. The 
National Guardsmen had considered that their uniforms were 
about as dirty as it was possible for a uniform to become, but 
when they compared them to the uniforms of the regulars 
they were compelled to say that their uniforms were not half 
dirty. The condition of the National Guard uniforms was 
between their condition on the night of the Guard's departure 
from the city and the condition presented by the uniforms of the 
regulars this morning. The only difference in equipments of 
the two bodies of troops was that the regulars carried the Webb 
belt, while the National Guard wore the cartridge-box. In 
this comparison the result is vastly in favor of the Webb belt. 
It is capable of carrying more ammunition; it is more easily 
accessible, and interferes less with the movement of march- 
ing, especially running. There was one thing about the reg- 
ulars that the members of Company B thought worthy of 
being imitated, and that is the long, slow, swinging stride. 
This has been found from experience to be particularly ser- 
viceable for long marches. Concerning the regular army 
officers, the transformation was something wonderful. In the 
dirty and dusty looking officer no one would have recognized 
the " petted darling" of society. 

The regulars having marched past, the command "rest" 
was again given. The members of the company were soon 
at ease upon the sidewalks communicating with each other 
what they thought about the appearance of the regulars, and 
what would be the effect upon the strike of their entrance 
on the stage of action. While thus resting, with an easy 
state of mind, believing now that as the regulars had landed, 
that the climax in the morning's operations had been reached, 



102 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

and that as the strikers had not shown themselves by attempt- 
ing to interfere with the landing of the troops, that they 
would not now indulge in any violent demonstrations in our 
vicinity, the "boys" were ill-prepared for what followed a 
moment later. For scarcely had the tail end of the regulars 
disappeared when the members of the company were very 
much startled at hearing a shot ring out. As if an electric 
current had passed through the entire company and battalion, 
every man sprang to his feet and his place in ranks. As 
the first shot was followed by a second, and that by another 
and another, until the firing became a regular fusillade, the 
excitement of the men arose correspondingly with the in- 
crease of the fire to a higher and higher pitch. A strange 
feeling crept over the men. At last they were going to be 
tried by fire, and each resolved to himself that he would not 
be found wanting. About this time Captain Cook received 
instructions to select five good shots from his company and 
have them report to Major Burdick. Sergt. A. F. Ramm, 
Privates G. Claussennius, Freck, Perry, and Bannan were the 
fortunate ones chosen. These, with an equal number of men 
from the other companies, were posted by Major Burdick 
along the line of the freight-cars as skirmishers, and in- 
structed to fire upon any one who showed himself upon the 
opposite bank of the river. The rest of the company was 
ordered to the opposite side of the street, and told to stand 
close into the side of the building, where they remained until 
the skirmish was completely over. 

The firing ceased almost as suddenly as it began. The strikers 
on the opposite bank of the river had received such a warm 
reception that they concluded to withdraw from the game; 
and it was when one or two of these worthies would make 
their way across the opening, with the intention of making 
their exit, that the reports of several rifles would be heard. 

It would be a task indeed to attempt to analyze the feelings 
of the members of the company. The excitement was very 
great. To shoot at and be shot at was certainly a novel 
experience, but one that was not an unmixed pleasure. To 
shoot at was all right; but being shot at is a questionable 
enjoyment. The former, however, so outweighs the latter, that 
all the members of the company were anxious to be called to 
the skirmish line, willing to be shot at for the sake of the 
pleasure of shooting. 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 103 

The effect of the first shot was more violent upon some than 
it was upon others. Upon Private Gille the effect was 
especially marked. He was repairing the hammer of his gun 
when the first shot went off. The thought that in case of a con- 
flict he would be without a gun with which to defend himself 
played havoc with his brain cells. It liberated a vast amount 
of motor energy, and this running down the outgoing nerves 
caused them to vibrate rapidly. His knees knocked against 
each other, his fingers trembled violently, his teeth chattered, 
and his tongue could only frame, " Somebody fix my gun; I'll 
be killed ! I'll be killed." Thrusting the gun into the hands of 
Lieutenant Filmer standing near by, he excitingly beseeched 
half the members of the company to fix his gun. Lieutenant 
Filmer was all this time breaking his thumbnail turning the 
screw of the gun hammer to the tune of " Fix my gun; I'll be 
killed." Fortunately the gun was repaired, or there is no 
knowing what might have happened to Private Gille. The 
way Gille grabbed the now useful gun boded ill to the man 
who invited its contents. 

How the world was going with those on the skirmish line 
was a matter of speculation. Was it possible that after all the 
firing no one was killed or even wounded ? Anxiously the 
company waited for news. Private Bannan was seen pres- 
ently coming from the skirmish line, and on nearer approach it 
was discovered that his thumb was covered with blood, and 
that he was bound for the hospital. Ha ! a man wounded ? 
How did it happen? Private Bannan did not know; he only 
knew that he was wounded w r hen he saw the blood. The prob- 
abilities are that the wound was received from the hammer of 
his gun, though most of the company w r ould not surrender 
the idea that it was caused by a bullet. Even when convinced 
otherwise they would exclaim, " Well, we say it was done 
by a bullet." For the company to possess a man wounded by 
a bullet was a special honor; it was something that could be 
pointed out to scoffers with great gratification. 

The details of the skirmish were learned from Private 
Bannan. It seemed that, just after the regulars had landed, 
Colonel Barry of the Third Regiment, stationed two blocks 
above L street, was fired upon by a striker from the Yolo side 
of the river. A part of one of the companies of the Third 
Regiment was ordered immediately out upon the skirmish 
line and returned the fire. The line was then reinforced by 



104 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

skirmishers from the first and second battalions of the First 
Regiment. About sixty shots were fired. From what Private 
Bannan could gather, four or five strikers at least were killed. 
Later reports proved that this number was incorrect and that a 
solitary Jap was the only victim. The reason why more execu- 
tion was not done is due to the fact that the strikers were 
hidden behind the levee, and, on account of the distance across 
the river not being properly gauged, sights were set all the 
way from 250 to 600 yards. 

When we first took up our position, owing to the earliness of 
the hour, there was a comparatively small number of people 
abroad. But as the time went on the crowd gathered 
around the lines became larger, many strikers being gathered 
there in response to the three blasts of a steam-whistle. While 
the firing was going on the crowd became excited, and looked 
as though they might attempt to break through the lines. 
The sentinels, however, proved themselves equal to the occa- 
sion. 

Our friend Dr. O'Malley, who was attached to second bat- 
talion station on K street, at which point the firing was un- 
doubtedly the warmest, describes the situation as one, while 
being of liveliest excitement, was rather uncomfortable for a 
man who follows the peaceful calling of prescribing pills. 
Especially, he says, was his position one of discomfort when, 
at the very time the fire was the warmest, someone called out, 
''Ambulance Corps this way." Now, Billy is quite a doctor, 
and thought it would be for the benefit of the regiment for 
him not to go forward and risk his life together with his 
skill. He thought, however, that he would leave it for Doctor 
O'Brien to decide. So he inquired, "Shall I go, Doctor?" 
He did not have to go, Doctor O'Brien saying "No, Billy, we 
need you here. Send the field music." 

How did the field music feel? At first it was a struggle 
between love and duty, and duty triumphed. Seizing hold 
of the litter with nervous determination, they made their way 
forward by slow degrees, each step taken being taken only 
after they had overcome the strong, glue-like cohesion between 
the earth and their feet. At last they arrived upon the skir- 
mish line in safety, and had just emitted a sigh of relief when 
Tommy Eckert, lying behind a car-wheel, cried out, "Down 
on your knees"! The four dropped like a shot, and like the 
ostrich of the desert, which, when hotly pursued, will bury 



_, 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 107 

its head in the sand, and thus think itself safe from de- 
tection, these unfortunate litter-bearers huddled themselves 
together on the ground, and crawled under the litter for pro- 
tection. Breathlessly, half dead with terror, they lay there, 
expecting every moment to hear the reports of musketry. 
Gaining a little confidence from the continued quietness, and 
feeling desirous of finding out how the situation stood, one of 
their number, A. Rupp by name and a German by birth, 
remembering the story of how a man deluded a tiger, sug- 
gested that they raise a hat on the end of a fife over the 
edge of the litter, and thus draw the fire of any striker who 
should happen to be laying in wait to pop them. This sug- 
gestion, which was at once followed, resulted in the hat, after 
being held aloft for some time, remaining intact, untouched 
by bullets. Then gaining still further confidence from this, 
one of their number quickly raised his head and glanced over 
the edge of the litter, but, as if astonished and startled by his 
own boldness and rashness, he as quickly dropped it behind 
the litter again. No disastrous consequences following from 
his hasty and courageous action, he took more courage and 
raised his head again above the litter, this time, however, 
glancing around with nervous rapidity. Seeing no signs of 
danger, he excitedly whispered to his comrades, " quickly 
fellows, now's our chance." At this they grasped the litter 
again and made their way hurriedly across the opening on 
their hands and knees to the freight-cars, and there, safe 
from bullets, behind the protecting wheels of the cars, they 
sank down exhausted and helpless. Recovering, they were 
informed that their assistance was needed at the other end of 
the line. They groaned, and then started courageously down 
the track on all fours, dragging the litter after them. By 
dodging from one car-wheel to another they finally reached 
their destination, only to find that the man who needed their 
aid was dead, buried, and forgotten. 

Hostilities having completely ceased, and not being likely to 
be renewed after the prompt action exhibited by the National 
Guard, the skirmishers and sentinels were withdrawn. The 
battalion was then re-formed and marched back to the Capitol 
grounds. 

The effect of the exciting events of the morning upon the 
company was electrifying. The discontented brightened up. 



108 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Those who had hitherto prayed for something to occur, which 
would compel them to return now could not be driven away. 
Even the intense longing of Lieutenant Filmer for one fond 
kiss from his baby girl was smothered for at least one week. 
The men had tasted of the excitement of battle and were eager 
for the fray. Their activities had at last found vent. Mate- 
rial had been gathered that morning which would serve as food 
for thought for many a day. Each man on his return from 
the skirmish had something to say concerning the novel 
experience of being for the first time in his life under fire; 
something to say of the feelings that ran through h im as the 
first shot rang out. Men had to relate again and again some 
special incident of interest in which they played a large part. 
Billy 0' Malley was compelled to tell how he, being unarmed, 
courageously or in other words by his immaculate gall, took a 
pistol away from a burly striker ; also how he felt, when the 
call rang out "Ambulance Corps this way." Phil Bannan 
was obliged to tell how he got his finger cut or shot as some 
of the members w T ould have it. Private Gille was given the 
opportunity to explain how he took the chill that caused him 
to nearly drop his rifle to the pavement. Private. 0' Brien 
had to entertain a select audience with an account of how 
he relieved an ugly looking customer of his weapon. Cor- 
poral Benny Burdick discoursed to another gathering how 
lie boldly challenged the United States Marshal Barry Baldwin. 
First Sergt. A. F. Ramm had to tell about the men he did 
not shoot and the number of shots he fired while on the 
skirmish line. Others would relate how, when the first 
shot was fired, they tightened their grip upon their rifles 
and started involuntarily forward. And still others were 
discussing the number killed. None, however, w r ere con- 
sidering the possibility of being called out again that day for 
active duty. But such was the case. 

The regulars, on landing, had proceeded direct to the depot. 
They found it practically deserted, and entered without op- 
position. The troops, once in possession of the depot, the 
railroad officials proceeded almost immediately to open up the 
blockade. A train was made up and placed under the guard 
of a detail of regular troops. And at 12:06 p. m. the first 
train since July 3d pulled out of the depot. Its destination was 
Oakland, 



J 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. Ill 

The first attempt to break the blockade was destined to re- 
sult in fatality. About two miles outside of Sacramento, at 
Davisville, the bolts had been withdrawn from the rails of a 
small trestlework and the train, trying to cross, was ditched, 
and four soldiers were killed. The news of the disaster was 
immediately sent to Colonel Graham, commanding the regu- 
lar troops at Sacramento, and thence spread rapidly. The 
cavalry were ordered to hasten to the scene and capture any 
suspicious looking characters in the vicinity. By this out- 
rageous crime the strikers lost more than they ever could hope 
to regain. Public opinion and press, which had largely sup- 
ported them, now, when they saw what such support resulted 
in, turned against them. The public recognized that a strike 
that carried with it destruction of property and life must not 
be tolerated. Even the regular had sympathized with them 
in their struggle against the thieving monopoly — the rail- 
road. But now, woe to the striker who would rub up against 
a regular. Every man's hand seemed to be turned against 
them. 

Colonel Graham was much affected by the news, and resolved 
to show the strikers no mercy. Hearing that they had se- 
creted arms in various parts of the city, he ordered four com- 
panies of the National Guard, under the command of Colonel 
Nunan of the Sixth Regiment, to search the various head- 
quarters of the strikers. The companies chosen to perform 
this dangerous duty were Companies A and B of the Sixth 
Regiment, Company B of the Third, and, as luck will have it, 
Company B of the First. 

It was at 3:30 p. m. when First Sergeant Ramm gave the com- 
mand, " Fall in." As Company B marched out of camp, 
much envied by the rest of the regiment, a scene took place 
in front of the guard tent the memory of which the "boys" 
will never forget. Shortly after we had returned in the morn- 
ing from the river Company H was relieved from guard duty, 
and details were taken from each company to make up the 
new guard. Those taken from Company B were Lieutenant 
Lundquist, who acted as officer of the guard, Sergeant Kelly, 
who acted as sergeant of the guard, and four privates, Gilky- 
son, Murphy, Flannagan, and Sieberst. Lieutenant Lund- 
quist and Sergeant Kelly were standing on the right as 
the company passed by. Privates Sieberst and Gilkyson 
were on the left, having been just relieved from a tour of 



112 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

guard duty. The beseeching look of Van Sieberst's face was 
painful to behold. His wail of " Captain, take me with you," 
was hard to refuse. But it had to be done. Private Gilky- 
son, at the thought of being left behind, became perfectly wild 
and threatened to whip the first man who addressed him. 
This happened to be Murphy, who came up after the company 
had marched off and wanted to know what was the matter. 
It is needless to say that his escape was of a hairbreadth nature. 
Sergeant Kelly was another study. He may not have cursed 
loud, but he did deep. There was gnashing of teeth as all 
hope vanished with the disappearance of the company. Lieu- 
tenant Lundquist, what of him? He too felt the strong de- 
sire to be with the boys. But it is hard to kick against 
the pricks. So he had to content himself with guarding the 
camp. The leaving of these behind was the only thing 
the men regretted. 

The company halted on the street just outside of camp, 
Here Captain Cook, according to instructions ordered Sergeant 
Clifford to report to Colonel Nunan. Upon reporting, Colonel 
Nunan said, "Sergeant, you are to select from your company 
four men whom you have the greatest confidence in, men who 
you can trust to stay with you in any danger. We will proceed 
into town and halt in front of a certain building; at a given 
signal from me you are to enter the building with your squad, 
and search the house from top to bottom. If you meet with 
resistance use force. Seize every firearm or weapon likely 
to do bodily harm. The company will remain on the out- 
side, and will respond to any call you may give for assistance." 

Sergeant Clifford selected as his squad Corporal J .N. Wilson, 
Privates Unger, Hayes, and Crowley. 

The four companies, two from the sixth, one from the third, 
and one from the first, were formed into a battalion, and the 
command " March," was given. The companies proceeded to a 
building in which was situated the headquarters of the A. R. U. 
Company B of the Sixth was detached from the column and 
sent to search the building. The other three companies con- 
tinued the march. Tn<3 next halt was made in front of the 
Fremont building. Company A of the Sixth was detailed to 
search this building. B of the First and B of the third then 
proceeded to the corner of Front and I streets. Here the 
companies were wheeled into line and halted. 

The building to be searched was a two-story dwelling, the 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 113 

ground floor of which, being one large room, was used for a 
meeting place by the strikers. It was removed from the corner 
of the street by a three-story building, the first floor being 
occupied by a saloon, while, on the left of it, was another two- 
story building. Owing to the intimate relation between 
these three buildings it was deemed advisable to search all 
three. Consequently, on account of the increased magnitude of 
the search, the original searching squad was increased by the 
addition of Privates ; Brien and Bannan and placed under 
the command of Lieutenant Filmer. On receiving the signal 
agreed upon from Colonel Nunan, Lieutenant Filmer led the 
way into the building. The outer door was opened, on demand, 
by the proprietor of the place, who invited the squad to step 
in, assuring them that they would encounter no resistance. 
Entering the building, the squad found themselves in a large 
room where some fifty men were seated round. Sizing up the 
the place, Lieutenant Filmer gave the command, " Search the 
house." The squad immediately spread out, part passing up- 
stairs, while the others searched the ground floor and base- 
ment. 

The company was now, for the first time in the campaign, 
really face to face with danger. A man's castle was being- 
invaded. Would he submit peacefully, or would he resist? 
This was a question that time alone could answer. 

After the searching squad had been some minutes at work 
Private Unger appeared at the door and asked for assistance. 
Reenforcements were sent in, and in a few minutes they reap- 
peared, bearing a large number of Italian swords and sheaths, 
which they piled upon the street. 

In the mean time the crowd began to assemble and press up 
toward the building in which the search was going on. See- 
ing the necessity of keeping the crowd back, Captain Cook 
ordered Corporal Burtis and Private M. Claussenius to clear 
the sidewalk as far as the corner. 

Fixing their bayonets, they advanced upon the crowd and 
commanded, " Get back ! " at the same time pressing the crowd 
back with their rifles. " I live here," was the response, "Get 
back! " " Don't you force me, I won't get back, I have a right 
here." " Get back or I'll put this through you,"emphasizing 
the commands by giving the refractory ones several sharp 
prods in the back with the bayonet, which overcame their 
resistance and accelerated their motion towards the corner, 



114 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

where they stood and relieved their wounded feelings by- 
taunting and jeering the men. " You people think you're 
great, but we'll fix you yet, coming up here to down us, eh? 
By God, we hope you scrubs will get it in the neck," and etc. 
Beneath this shower of abuse Claussenius and Burtis stood 
impervious. Whatever satisfaction the crowd might have 
derived from jeering, and thus giving vent to their injured 
feelings, they certainly derived none, if such satisfaction 
depended upon their irritating the objects of their displeasure, 
from the men themselves. 

Corporal Burtis* work was much admired by Lieutenant 
Mclver of the regular army and inspector of the National 
Guard of California. He was heard to remark to one of the 
officers that " that man is a fine corporal." Corporal Burtis 
did not display a single sign of weakness. His work was 
characterized by firmness and determination, the essential 
elements of a good soldier. 

The crowd, seeing it was impossible to get past the senti- 
nels at the corner, made a wide detour and attempted to gain 
a position upon a freight platform on the opposite side of the 
street. A few succeeded in doing so, only, however, to be 
scared into a hasty flight a moment later. Corporal J. N. 
Wilson and a private from Company B of the Third were 
guarding this platform. The man from the Third had a voice 
that would awaken the dead. When he shouted, " Get off 
there," it had almost the opposite effect, it bound them to 
their seats. But, when the ominous click of Corporal Wil- 
son's rifle struck their ears, the spell was broken, and a rapid 
retreat ensued. 

A line of sentinels, consisting of Corporals Burtis and Mc- 
Culloch, Privates M. Claussenius, G. Radke, and W. Crowley, 
were posted across the street to the right of the building fac- 
ing east, while Company B of the Third was posted similarly 
across the street to the left and facing west, both lines lidd- 
ing in check a large crowd. 

It might be mentioned here that Company B of the Third 
did excellent work on this occasion, and showed that they 
could be relied upon in any emergency. They presented a 
very formidable appearance — big, brawny fellows. What- 
ever else might be said, this fact remains, they are fighters, 
everv inch of them. 






THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 115 

Captain Cook, in making a tour of investigation, made the 
discovery that in the rear of the buildings being searched 
was an alleyway leading out onto a side street. Instantly it 
flashed through his strategic brain that the sentinels were not 
posted to the best advantage. What was to prevent the strik- 
ers from making their exit with arms and ammunition through 
this passageway, or what was to hinder them from receiving 
reinforcements through it? He lost no time in reaching the 
street and remedying this defect. He ordered the sentinels 
posted at the corner to force the crowd down I street for about 
one hundred feet. The sentinels fulfilled the orders in short 
notice; a few sharp commands, a prod with the bayonet here 
and there, did the work, and our position was safe. Fortu- 
nately the weakness of our position was discovered before the 
strikers had the opportunity of making use of it; if this were 
not so, there is no telling how the day might have resulted. 
What if a crowd of desperate strikers had rushed through 
this entrance, overpowered the searching squad, taken away 
their guns, and then fired down upon the company in the 
street, perhaps massacring the whole body. One shudders to 
think of what might have happened. But let it be said that 
as long as we have at the head of our company a man whose 
brain in the time of battle is so clear, so far reaching, and at 
the same time so quick, there is no need to be alarmed that 
such disastrous results will flow from any neglect to guard 
our position well. 

Private Tooker, while acting as a sentinel, by his firmness 
and unrelentless severity in forcing the crowd back, incurred 
the dislike of several of the strikers. On a high-boarded fence 
near by was a lithographic poster of Mephistopheles. Pointing 
to this lithograph, one of the strikers remarked that Tooker's 
face looked very much like the face of the devil on the fence. 
This was not at all complimentary, I can assure you. Tooker 
is conceded to be one of the best looking, and at the same time 
one of the most unassuming, young men in the company ; and 
the beauty of it all is, that he is unconscious of the fact. Dur- 
ing the late excursion of the company to Stockton an insane 
man actually said that he would like to have Tooker's face, as 
it was such a handsome one, and this, let me tell you, with all 
due earnestness, is no sign of the man's insanity. So you can 
see that the transformation must have been wonderful for it 
even to be possible to conceive of making a comparison be- 
tween Tooker's face and that of the devil's. 



116 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

It was just after the sentinels had forced the crowd down I 
street that the cavalry, which had been ordered to the scene 
of the wreck, with instructions to arrest all suspicious char- 
acters in the vicinity, came up I street with a number of pris- 
oners they had rounded up. The prisoners were on foot in 
the center of the troop, while behind them, also on foot, was a 
line of soldiers urging them along at the point of the bayonet. 

Following in the trail of the cavalry was a large crowd, curi- 
ous to see and find out what was going to be done with the 
prisoners. In their anxiety to satisfy their curiosity, they 
were oblivious of every thing else. As the commander of the 
cavalry rode through the lines he told the sentinels to keep 
back the crowd, which was consequently very much aston- 
ished when their attention was attracted, by a sudden and un- 
expected challenge, " Halt," to the points of the bayonets held 
by the sentinels those in front came to such an abrupt stop that 
those in the rear almost piled on top of them before they real- 
ized what had happened. The crowd then remained station- 
ary at a respectable distance from the points of the bayonets, 
until the cavalry, retracing their steps, passed through the 
lines again, when they once more attached themselves to the 
rear of the troop and moved away. 

While the sentinels were dealing with the crowd on the 
outside the searching party, now augmented by Privates G. 
Claussenius, R. Iladke, Stealy, F. Shula, and Sindler, were hav- 
ing, on the inside of the building, an exciting time carrying 
out their instructions. Of the original searching squad, Ser- 
geant Clifford made the first discovery. Going directly to the 
rear of the house, and putting his hand into the corner of a 
closet, he pulled out a jar containing several pistols, a few 
knives, and some ammunition. Private Hayes was the next 
successful explorer. In one of the rooms on the upper floor 
he ran across a pile of about seventy Italian swords and sheaths. 
These were carried to the street and deposited upon a truck. 

The "crust" broken, the searching squad entered into the 
spirit of the duty. Every room in the house was thoroughly 
searched. Doors that were locked and were not opened on 
demand were burst open, either with a swinging blow of the 
canteen, or else one of the squad would take a short run and 
launch the whole weight of his body against it. No nook in 
the room was left unsearched. Trunks were opened and their 



THE APPEARANCE OP THE REGULARS. 117 

contents inspected, beds were turned completely over and the 
clothes well explored, closets were ransacked and the miscel- 
laneous articles in them minutely examined. No ceremony 
was used. And while the search was thorough, we are glad to 
say that the searching party, under the careful eye of Lieuten- 
ant Filmer, was particular to replace everything they inspected 
in the same condition it was before the search began. 

On the rear porch Sergeant Clifford discovered ten sacks 
filled with hard material. When he went to examine them 
carefully a bystander remarked to him, "It's only coal." On 
examination they were found to contain a species of coal 
known as boiler punchings. Sergeant Clifford called Colonel 
Xunan's attention to the sacks, who immediately ordered them 
to be taken out. 

On the roof of the building were found a number of Win- 
chester rifles and a quantity of ammunition. 

Captain Cook, on examining one of these rifles, noticed that 
a quantity of sand was adhering to the barrel, and that there 
were signs of the rifle having been recently used. From this 
he naturally inferred that it was one of the weapons used by 
the strikers during the morning skirmish, but which had been 
deposited in the building after the skirmish was over. 

Private Bannan, hunting around, stumbled across, in one of 
the rooms, a basket of lint, which seemed to indicate that the 
strikers were prepared for the worst. 

Several times in the course of the search critical moments 
were experienced. Some of the lodgers objected to having 
their rooms searched, and it was only by a determined front, 
aided materially by the click of the rifle, that they unwillingly 
submitted. 

The first building having been completely searched, the 
squad passed into the other buildings. Private Hayes dis- 
covered a lot of catridges on a shelf in the rear of the saloon. 
He was about to confiscate them on the behalf of the state, 
when an outsider interfered, saying that the property belonged 
to him, at the same time putting his hands upon the ammu- 
tion. The cocking of Sergeant Clifford's rifle reminded the 
man that his hands were needed some place else. 

Private G. Claussenius taught one striker a lesson not to 
lay his hands on a National Guardsman with impunity. As 
Claussenius was passing through one of the rooms in the rear 



118 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

of the saloon, he was astonished to receive a shove and a 
command to get out of here. Turning, he was confronted by a 
fierce looking individual who reiterated the command to get 
out and made another attempt to put his command into execu- 
tion. The attempt was about as far as he got. Claussenius 
cocked his piece, and jabbing it up against the fellow's breast, 
with his finger on the trigger ready to fire instantly on 
the least further provocation, he ordered the man to get out 
of the room. The fellow never hesitated, but in a weakened 
voice said, " All right, don't shoot! " and passed out of the room. 
The action of this individual reminds one of the following 
lines: 

" How many cowards wear yet upon their chins 
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, 
Who, inward searched, have livers white as milk." 

In the natural course of events Private Stealey had a some- 
what similar experience. Meeting one who he took to be a 
striker, he ordered the man to throw up his hands, which com- 
mand was obeyed with great alacrity. The man, on being 
searched, justified suspicion, as he was found to be armed 
with an ugly looking revolver. It is needless to say that he 
was relieved of it. 

While the squad was searching the basement of the build- 
ing, they were startled to hear from above the report of a gun. 
For awhile their position was a peculiar one; hearing, how- 
ever, no further reports, they concluded that it was an acci- 
dental discharge — which it really was. It seems that while 
Lieutenant Mclver was unloading one of the captured Win- 
chesters, a shell was jammed and exploded, the bullet striking 
the bottom of the truck, and glancing upward entered one of 
the sacks of boiler slugs. 

The buildings having been thoroughly searched, the search- 
ing parties and sentinels were called in and the companies re- 
formed. 

Just as we were about to move, an incident occurred which 
showed how far a sympathetic strike can be carried. The 
driver of the truck upon which the confiscated articles were 
placed, when told to drive on, refused to do so and dismounted 
from the seat. Here was a man connected in no way with the 
strikers, except in the larger conception of the universal 
brotherhood of man, placing himself in jeopardy merely to 
show his sympathy for the strikers. This did not, however, 
cause any delay, for the sergeant major of the Sixth Regiment 
mounted the seat and manipulated the reins. 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 119 

The two companies then marched to the corner of Second 
and J streets, at which point Lieutenant Filmer again led 
his merry squad of searchers out and proceeded to search 
the Pioneer Bakery. Corporals Burtis, McCulloch and Bur- 
dick, Privates M. Claussenius, Keane,Wise, and others, assisted 
by part of Company B of the Third, guarded the crossing of 
the streets below the bakery, while Privates O'Brien, Flana- 
gan, Overstreet, with others of the Third Regiment, formed a 
line of sentinels across the street above the building. The 
searching squad was made up of very nearly the same men 
who composed it on the previous search. 

In the bakery, the searching party was met by the propri- 
etor, who informed them with great solemnity that there were 
no weapons of any kind on his premises. In spite of this as- 
surance, the place was searched, and the results did not har- 
monize with the proprietor's statement. The inside of the 
building was found to be a perfect labyrinth. Winding stair- 
ways and dark passages in such profusion that it was extremely 
difficult to make a thorough search. Besides this, the dirt and 
filth of the place was something frightful. It seemed to be 
more fit for a pigsty than a dwelling-place of men. Sergeant 
Clifford, by feeling his way, managed to reach the roof. On 
looking around he saw that the roof of the adjacent building 
was about twelve feet higher than that of the bakery. Against 
the wall of this building a ladder was leaning ; so, thinking 
that the roof might be worthy of investigation, he was about 
to ascend, when he met a lieutenant of the Third coming 
down, and who mentioned that there was nothing up there. 
The sergeant, knowing that it was impossible for the lieuten- 
ant to make a careful search in the time he was upon the roof, 
proceeded up, and was well rewarded for his pains; for there, 
lying side by side, were five Winchester rifles, with a pile of 
ammunition stacked alongside of each gun. Sergeant Clifford 
also noticed that brickbats were piled around the edge of the 
roof, with the evident intention of throwing them down upon 
the militia on the streets. In descending to the ground floor, 
Clifford encountered in one of the small rooms a hard-looking 
citizen, who he promptly ordered to throw up his hands. On 
being searched, the man was found armed with an old pow- 
der-and-ball revolver, of 38-caliber, which was taken away. 
This Sergeant Clifford still retains as a memento. In addition, 
twelve pistols were also found in the different rooms. 

While the search was going on inside, Private O'Brien 



120 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

had a thrilling experience on the outside. Just above the 
bakery is a small alley running perpendicular to Second street, 
and as far as K. Here a number of strikers were gathered. 
These, Private O'Brien, assisted by a private from the Third, 
ordered back into the alley, and told them to keep moving 
until they reached the street a Mock above. The strikers 
moved back. But when they were about seventy-five yards 
from the corner, and near to the street above, they halted and 
faced about. Then, drawing revolvers and leveling them at 
O'Brien and the man from the Third, they yelled for them to 
get out of the alley. 

The bluff did n't work worth a cent. O'Brien merely seized 
a chair, and, placing it in the middle of the alley with its back 
toward the strikers, straddled it, and then, resting his arm 
upon the back of it, he drew a bead upon the strikers. The 
situation remained unchanged for a minute or so, when the 
strain proving too great for the strikers, they turned, fled up 
the alley and disappeared around the corner, shaking their 
fists and hurling imprecations at O'Brien as they did so. 

The crowd that thronged around the lines of the sentinels 
at this place was much larger than it had been at the former 
place of search. The blockaded streets were the principal thor- 
oughfares of the city, and many persons in the crowd were 
prevented by the blockade from transacting their regular 
business. Some of these became extremely angry at being 
stopped. One old, irascible gent, wearing a silk tile, which 
gave him a sort of a professional appearance, on being told 
that he could not go through the lines, but that if he had any 
business to transact he would have to go back and pass around 
the block, became very indignant at the thought that he, an 
important personage, should be treated like a common, every- 
day individual. He had to go around the block, just the same. 

The bakery having been thoroughly searched, and the 
" spoils of war " deposited upon the truck, the sentinels were 
withdrawn and companies again re-formed. The march was 
then taken up and continued down L street. Soon, Company 
B detached itself from the column, and, turning to the left, 
marched to the Golden Eagle Hotel, where an excellent din- 
ner awaited them. 

The search, judged from every point of view, was a com- 
plete success. That it was a surprise is evidenced by the fact 
that no attempt was made to remove the weapons from any 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 121 

of the buildings. The probabilities are that the strikers had 
no idea that a search would be instituted, and further, that 
they did not become cognizant of the movement until the 
searching party stood before their door. One thing, above 
all others, did the result of the search tend to show, and that 
is this, that the strikers, if not as a body, still to a consider- 
able number, were prepared and really intended to engage in 
an actual conflict with the troops. 

The scene of a truck loaded with weapons of war being 
driven through the streets in broad daylight, guarded on all 
sides by glittering bayonets, is one that will not be forgotten 
by the Sacramento citizens for some time to come. Tt brought 
facts home to the people and showed them that the strike was 
no peaceful affair, but some thing of a very serious nature. 
It revealed the true position of the strikers. 

The events of the morning were exciting, but these were 
even more so. For on this occasion the men did not have to 
share the honors with any one. In the dining-room the noise 
of the conversation was almost deafening. To an outsider it 
would appear as if a Bedlam has broken loose. Each man 
had some thing more important than the other to relate, and 
consequently each bid against the other for the attention of 
the table he was at. Either a man was eating, or else he was 
talking, and between the two, his jaw was kept busy. Some 
were handicapped on account of not having so many personal 
experiences as others; but they made up for it, the one expe- 
rience they had, they 

" Told ; retold it o'er." 

One interesting subject was the manner in which the mem- 
bers of the company impressed the strikers. Their duty had 
been performed in such a way, with such snap and at the 
same time with such firmness, that the strikers were kept 
guessing as to whether they were regulars or the militia. 
Surely, the strikers argued, that man, pointing to Crowley, 
does not belong to the militia, or that one, pointing to Burtis, 
or that one, etc., pointing to Wilson, Keane, Heeth, Zimmer- 
man, R. Radke in succession, and, above all, that one with the 
white diamond on his arm, meaning First Sergeant A. F. Rarnm. 
Surely, he cannot belong to the militia! Their conception 
of the National Guard was altogether different from the 
appearance of the men. Weak-kneed, narrow-chested, goose- 
necked, pale-faced striplings were, with them, synonymous 



122 THE STKIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

to the members of the National Guard. These men did not 
agree with their conception, so, consequently, they must be 
regulars. One of the women in the crowd, that Burtis forced 
back with no gentle hand, excused him to the strikers by say- 
ing that he could not help it, as he was a regular. 

As soon as the meal was finished the company marched 
back to the Capitol grounds. As they passed into camp it was 
loudly cheered by the other companies. Company F espe- 
cially showed its unselfishness by giving, as a company, three 
cheers and a tiger for Company B. Upon reaching the 
company's street the men were dismissed, and for the rest of 
the evening until taps were besieged, at different times, by 
nearly the whole regiment, all anxious to hear about what took 
place during the raid. 

This night pickets were again sent out. Gilkyson, Hayes, 
and O'Brien were sent from Company B. The strikers 
were as much excited over the events of the day as were the 
militia. Just as in the case of any undue excitement, those 
people who live out of town will proceed into town in order to 
hear the latest news, so the strikers gathered into town that 
night in order to discuss the latest phase in the course of the 
strike. All the hours of the night and the early hours of the 
the morning they passed and repassed the camp in groups. 
The pickets kept on the alert for any suspicious move on their 
part, and had plans formed for repulsing any advance that 
they might make. The strikers, however, were not looking 
for trouble, as they had enough for one day. 

The following morning the company again omitted to take 
its accustomed walk for breakfast — it was served on the 
grounds. From this time on meals were prepared within the 
camp. The rapidity with which cooks sprang up on every 
hand passeth all understanding. Some were but an ephem- 
eral growth — they blossomed but to die. Others, however, dis- 
played a real native gift for cooking, which they themselves 
hitherto had never dreamt they possessed. This exhibition 
of latent genius reminds one of the lines in Gray's Elegy: 

" Full many a gem of purest ray serene 

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear; 

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.' 

Had the opportunity of developing their genius never pre- 
sented itself to them the world would have never known the 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 123 

power that lay within their mold of clay, and Company B 
would have been the loser, but perhaps not the sadder. 

About nine o'clock in the morning the regiment was assem- 
bled and marched to the depot. At last we were to enter the 
long-desired building. But under what disgraceful condi- 
tions! Only after the regulars had driven out the strikers. 
How humiliating it was for the men of the National Guard to 
walk into the depot under the protection, as it were, of three 
hundred and fifty regulars. It should have been the opposite. 
Ay, and it would have been so had the rank and file had their 
way. But the Fates decided it otherwise, and the militia had 
to be content with what " pie" the regulars did not use. 

Arms were stacked in the depot and the men given liberty 
to move about the building. Observation showed that the 
regulars had the place well guarded. Two Gatling guns were 
placed at one of the outlets, pointing threateningly towards 
the crowd gathered around. The building was also sur- 
rounded by a line of sentinels. One of these, a marine, 
attracted especial attention by his activity and particularly on 
account of an encounter he had with a burly striker who was 
evidently not very much impressed with his appearance; 
for, when told to stand back, he doggedly refused and made 
an attempt to draw a weapon. No movement ever resulted 
more disastrously to the mover. The marine quickly threw 
up his piece, and, catching it by the barrel, struck the fellow 
a terrific blow with the stock between the neck and shoulder, 
placing him " hors de combat." Had the blow struck him 
fairly upon the neck it would have killed him. As it was, it 
broke the stock of the gun. The striker was made a prisoner, 
and a sorry time he had of it too. The case being reported, 
the officer of the day coolly remarked that the next time, in 
case of trouble, to use powder and ball, as it was cheaper than 
breaking guns. 

To be a prisoner in the ordinary sense of the term and to 
be a prisoner under the surveillance of the regular army, 
especially during the Sacramento campaign, are two entirely 
different things. One who has ever undergone the experience 
of being a prisoner for twenty-four hours under the charge 
of the regulars would most emphatically object to its repeti- 
tion. The prisoners whom the regulars had rounded up the 
day previous to the militia reporting at the depot presented 
this day a pitiful appearance. They had been handcuffed 



124 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

together and incarcerated in one of the small rooms of the 
depot. Here they stood for twenty-four hours without being 
permitted to sit or lie down. The sentinels placed over them 
received orders to shoot them if they persisted in doing so. 
These were harsh orders, but the occasion demanded them. 
The poor wretches were certainly in a dilemma. To sit down 
was death; to stand up was almost as bad. This way of deal- 
ing with the prisoners had undoubtedly a salutory effect. The 
striker, by the time he was released, learned sufficient to make 
him extremely cautious in the future about drawing a re- 
volver, especially upon a marine. 

In the depot there was a small dining-room where coffee 
and buns could be had for fifteen cents. This dining-room 
had a fascination for certain of the "boys"; partly because 
it had a familiar look, and partly because the meal that morn- 
ing was unusually scanty. At any rate, the place was soon 
doing a thriving business. Those members of the guard who 
did not possess the necessary fifteen per, gazed wistfully at 
their more fortunate brethren performing the magical opera- 
tion of turning eatables into men. Now, here was a problem 
for solution; how were they, without money and without 
friends, going to participate in the performance. Dr. O'Mal- 
ley was the first to solve the problem. Nor did he find any 
difficulty in doing so. Seeing no reason why a man in the 
service of the state should be denied anything that would 
contribute to the comfort of his stomach, he walked boldly 
into the place and sat himself down at the counter. He 
gave the necessary order, and in such a way that one would 
think he was loaded down with wealth. No doubt the pro- 
prietor of the place thought of him in this light. But if 
he did, how sadly he must have been disappointed; for when 
O'Malley had sufficiently satisfied his wants, he called the 
proprietor to him, and in a matter of fact way told him that 
he was sorry but he had no money to pay for what he had 
eaten. The man was astounded; but what could he do? His 
property was gone and could never be recalled. Grin and 
bear it was all that was left for him. 

O'Malley never waited to see the effect of his words, but 
slowly walked away, as though what he had done was perfectly 
proper. Not satisfied with this, he made others acquainted 
with his solution. Running across two of the members of 
the company, who were loudly bemoaning their sad fate of 
being without money in a strange land, and thus barred, as 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 125 

they thought, from disposing of a large cup of extra fine 
coffee, he offered to aid them in securing what they wished. 
Telling them to follow him, he made his way to the counter 
again. The proprietor had hardly recovered from the previ- 
ous shock, when O'Malley, addressing him again, saying, "Now, 
here is an opportunity for you to do an act of charity. These 
two men left their homes in such a hurry that they neglected 
to take with them any money. Give them something to eat, 
and you will be rewarded for it at some future day." The 
man collapsed. It was impossible to refuse such a request, 
when backed by such a powerful battery of gall. The men 
received what they wished for. And O'Malley was twice 
blessed. First, he was blessed by the proprietor of the place. 
This blessing, however, was of a negative nature. Secondly, he 
was blessed — and this was a positive blessing — by his two 
comrades. The way being once known, many worked out the 
problem. It is safe to say that about half of the business that 
that coffee establishment did that day was charged to profit 
and loss. 

At about three o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was 
formed and marched to Ninth and D streets. Here it was 
decided that the First Regiment should pitch its tents. A 
lot of work was planned out by Col. Graham for the militia, 
and in order that this work be done w r ell, it was necessary to 
break camp at the Capitol grounds, and pitch camp near the 
field of action. From this time on the men could not com- 
plain of not having something to do. 

While we were at the depot orders had been given to each 
company to detail six men, one from each tent, to assist in break- 
ing camp at the Capitol grounds. These details were placed 
under the command of Captain Marshall, of Company A, and 
Lieutenant Filmer of Company B, and marched back to the 
camp. The reason why one man was selected from each tent 
was that the man selected would see that the property of his 
tent crowd was packed together and rolled inside of the tent, 
so that when it came to pitching camp at Ninth and D streets 
each tent crowd would have no trouble in finding their 
property. Quartermaster Sergeant Clifford, Privates Hayes, 
Overstreet, Baumgartner, Gilkyson and Warren were detailed 
from Company B. 

Arriving at the camp about noon the detail of Company B 
decided to lunch before starting to work. Baumgartner, who 



126 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

is quite partial to the frothed liquid, and who, at the same time, 
knew his comrades' fondness for the beverage, suggested that a 
magic wand in the shape of a tin pail and about fifty cents be 
employed to make the liquid materialize. Lieutenant Filmer 
generously contributed the fifty, while the rest of the detail 
contributed the pail. Baumgartner was then passed through 
the lines, magic wand in hand, in search of a rock to smite. 
While waiting, Quartermaster Sergeant Clifford went 
about preparing lunch. It was the same old menu that had 
been served for seven days — corned beef, cheese, and bread. 
The men were used to it now, and looked for it as they would 
for the coming of the night. Being a little short of butter, 
the Quartermaster hastened to the officers' mess tent to see if 
a slice happened to remain from the morning meal. There 
was, " Praise Jehovah," more than a slice of butter. Boxes, 
containing canned oysters, corn, tongue, lobster, prepared 
beans, and deviled ham, carelessly left open, met his gaze. 
His thoughts, as his eyes lingered fondly upon these delica- 
cies, seemed to say, " You'll be mine, by and by." Hastily 
opening his shirt, he placed, in a lovable way, can after can 
next to his breast. (Anyone who has ever seen Clifford on an 
expedition of this kind knows the expansive qualities of his 
shirt.) Then, laden with spoils, or rather luxuries, he darted 
like a flash down the company's street into his tent, where 
that noble box, could it but speak, would tell of many such 
takings, was waiting to receive the treasure. Private Hayes, 
noticing the hasty move, followed the Quartermaster, and 
desired to know where such things could be had. Learning 
their whereabouts, he lost no time in also relieving the mess 
tent of a fair shirtfull, and then returning to have them stowed 
away in the Quartermaster's box. Sergeant Clifford, not 
wishing to do any thing by halves, innocently inquired, 
" Billy, did jou leave any thing?" Hayes, in surprise, an- 
swered, " Why, yes, I think there is a couple of cans left." 
" Well, now, that's too bad," says Clifford, and away he has- 
tened, thinking of the remorse he would have to endure 
should he fail to secure those remaining cans. Quickly secur- 
ing these, he made another grand bolt for the noble box. 
Scarcely had he reached his tent, when Commissary Sergeant 
Fitzgerald entered the officers' mess tent ; he was n't in that 
tent a second when he staggered backward out again, his eyes 
bulging out of his head. Throwing his arms convulsively 
in the air, he exclaimed in heartrending tones, " Oh, God ! 
what is this?" The shock he received was a terrible one. 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE REGULARS. 127 

Recovering himself, the agonizing look on his face gave place 
to one of fierceness. A bloodthirsty look came into his eyes. 
Suddenly realizing Clifford's taking propensities, he made a 
bee line for the company's street. Woe to the man upon 
whom Fitz laid his heavy hand. Hayes, however, was on 
the lookout. Seeing Fitz charging for the street, he imme- 
diately warned the quartermaster sergeant that Fitz was on 
the warpath. Quick as a flash the box was closed and locked. 
It was none too soon, for immediately after Fitz appeared 
upon the scene perfectly wild. " Clifford," he yelled, " did you 
take any thing out of that tent?" " What tent?" asked Clifford. 
The apparent innocence displayed by the quartermaster 
seemed to lift any doubt that Fitz entertained concerning 
his connection with the affair. So he quickly started off on 
another trail. Clifford came very near to owing the company 
a dollar, for it nearly terminated in being a complete shave 
for him instead of a close one. 

Baumgartner having returned from his mission, all hands 
made ready for lunch. A couple of cans of oysters and 
tongue were opened in honor of the raid on the commissary 
stores. It is needless to say that the meal was relished. 
Right after lunch the men started to take down the tents. 
Owing to limited number of trucks the work of removal was 
very slow. 

In the course of the afternoon the brigade commissary sent 
over for a few men to carry the commissary stores to the side- 
walk, and thence be loaded upon the trucks. Quartermaster 
Clifford and Private Overstreet volunteered their assistance, 
not, however, from entirely selfish motives. In the natural 
run of events they succeeded in relieving the brigade larder 
of a number of useful things, such as canned beans, sugar, 
potted ham, and soap. 

At about five o'clock the work of demolishing was com- 
pleted. The details w r ere united and marched to Ninth and 
D streets, where the opposite process, of erecting tents, was 
going on. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

THE FIRST REGIMENT AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 



f~~°% N receiving the order to go into camp the regiment 
ill was formed at the east end of the depot and marched 
down the tracks to Ninth and D streets, where we 
were met by the baggage wagons conveying our camp 
outfit, tents, knapsacks, etc., from the Capitol grounds, 
which were henceforth occupied only by the 6th and 8th 
regiments. 

Headquarters were quickly established on the grounds of a 
vacant house occupying the northwest corner of Ninth and 
D streets, and the order to establish camp given. Now every 
thing became a scene of confusion. Willing hands soon 
unloaded the baggage-wagons and men from each company 
carried the rolled tents to the ground they were to respectively 
occupy. Now did the rule of "taking" as established by that 
king of vandals, Clifford, again come into use. Far-seeing 
men of the Jack Wilson and Sam Wise type, scenting a 
chance for plunder, generously offered their services to that 
greatly worried individual Commissary Sergeant Fitzgerald. 
Thankfully accepting the extraordinary offer, he set them to 
work carrying the commissary stores, including a great many 
boxes of pears and plums, into the vacant building in rear of 
the headquarters. On this fruit, it soon appeared, had Wilson 
and Wise and their cohorts cast an evil eye. Thus does it 
now appear, though, in justice to these skillful foragers, it 
128 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 131 

should be admitted that they offered very plausible excuses 
when, a few hours later, a dozen or so boxes of fruit Mere 
found carefully stowed away in their tents. It was now plain 
that "Every man for himself and the devil take the hind- 
most" had become a well-established rule. 

The work of raising the tents went busily forward. On 
account of the narrowness of the road company street forma- 
tion was used, giving each company a separate street of four 
tents on each side; the first tents on the left of the street be- 
ing occupied by the captain and lieutenants. By this means 
simply the road was used, the sidewalk being left open. 

True it is that campaigning sharpens the wits. On every 
occasion that one man thought to gain an advantage over his 
fellows he was sure to find others carefully watching the same 
opportunity. Thus it was on the Capitol grounds when one 
tent crowd thought to carry off an old torn tent to. Use as a 
floor cloth, but found it necessary to have a rough and tumble 
fight with every other tent crowd on the street before they 
secured the coveted prize. And so it was at our new camp. 
We had no sooner seen the ground on which we were to camp 
than we knew hay would arrive to be used as beds, four bales 
for each company. Men from B began to lay in wait for the 
hay, with the laudible object in view of capturing an extra 
bale or so. They found men of the other companies equally 
alert, however. The hay soon arrived, and in spite of the 
efforts of Major Jansen, who tried to see even-handed justice 
done, the bales first from one side and then from the other 
walked off in the most mysterious manner. On taking stock 
after the scramble, it was found that B, through the agency of 
Flanagan, McCulloch, Murphy, and O'Brien, had become the 
proud possessors of six life-sized bales, which w^ere quickly cut 
up and distributed in order to avoid discovery. Suspicion 
was also averted by sending the meek and lowly Ban nan 
down toward the now empty wagon to " raise a kick" for 
more hay. 

The work of building the canvas city on Ninth street was 
soon completed. At this place Ninth street had but one open 
end, at its crossing with D the railroad track built upon 
the levee, which is here about twelve feet above the street, 
cutting off the block at about C street. The tents of C com- 
pany, having the left of the second battalion, were pitched 
close to this embankment, the others running out towards D 
street in the order of their positions in the battalions. 



132 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The large building mentioned before, on the grounds of 
which the headquarters tents had been pitched was taken 
possession of the hospital corps in front and the commissary 
department in the rear. 

This house, though large and apparently well built, appeared 
to have been vacant for a year or two at the least; and it was 
not long before the irrepressible Doc Sieberst, in the course of 
his wanderings after adventure, learned (it is alleged from the 
members of the Japanese mission across the street who sang so 
sweetly night and morning), that this self-same house was 
haunted. This set his fertile brain at work, and he appeared 
on B street a few minutes later with the light of genius shin- 
ing from his eyes, such as beams out upon us when he holds 
us spellbound by his wonderful rendition of that classic Ger- 
man poem " Schneider's Ride." Gathering his " heelers," 
musical and otherwise, around him, he explained his discovery 
and the use to which it w r as to be put. As the dusk of even- 
ing fell o'er our quiet canvas city, marshalled forward to the 
fence in full view of headquarters, with outstretched arms 
and pointing fingers, we roared as in the Bells of Corneville, 

"That house is haunt-ed, 

"That house is haunt-ed, 
"That house is haunt-ed, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted. 

"That house is haunt-ed, 
"That house is haunt-ed, 

"That house is haunt-ed, ted, ted, ted." 

The effect was said to have been beautiful, tho' it must be 
confessed we did not wait to investigate; we had pressing 
business elsewhere. 

We knew, when the brigade was placed under the com- 
mand of Colonel Graham at the railroad yards, that our longed- 
for chance for active service had come. Colonel Graham was 
too well known for us to imagine for a moment that our idle 
days would continue. And he proved us right; for on this first 
day at the new camp he called for a detail from the First to 
relieve that of the regulars at the American river bridge, about 
four miles northeast of our camp. Later on, on account of the 
large number of men from the regiment on duty each day as 
track and train and bridge guards, our colonel found it best to 
send to each place details composed entirely of men from one 
company. On this occasion, however, the guard was made up 
of details from the different companies. B's detail was com- 
posed of Corporal McCulloch, Privates Heeth, Heizman, Mc- 
Kaig, O'Brien, and Keane, and detailed from the hospital 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 133 

corps, as medical assistant, Dr. Tom McCulloch. A great deal 
of interest centered round this guard, as, in heavy marching 
order, it formed in front of headquarters under charge of First 
Lieutenant Eggert of F. Amongst the enlisted men it was 
not known what duty was to be assigned to it, The men on 
the guard joshed the unlucky ones, who gathered round watch- 
ing the preparations and trying to catch an idea of its desti- 
nation. Supper had not yet been served, so, standing in line, 
while Quartermaster duff and Commissary Sergeant Fitz- 
gerald filled their canteens with black coffee and their haver- 
sacks with crackers, the men munched greedily on canned 
corned beef sandwiches, by calling the which "ham," they 
succeeded in swallowing. 

While this hasty meal was going on, much advice, good and 
bad, though generous, was offered by the facetious private, 
who stood with his hands deep in his pockets, his head cocked 
on the side, and his campaign hat hanging on by a few stiff 
hairs in back, as he viewed his comrades with the critical eye 
he intended to use when he became colonel. He kept a close 
watch on Adjutant Williams, however, as he shouted out 
his advice to "Shoot first, and then challenge." "Keep 'ira 
covered 'till you can find out what the papers will say, Bill." 
"Gimme a lock of yer hair, Tommy"? or "If you get a 
chance, give 'em one for us, boys." The men on the guard 
simply grinned in answer as they ate their scanty supper, 
feeling the superiority of their position. The guard, having 
finished the meal, was marched to the tracks on the levee 
above the camp, where they were placed on a train composed 
of a flat-car in front and a day-coach in rear of an engine, 
and were whirled off down the track toward the American 
River. 

This guard having been dispatched, another detail was 
called for from each company, and a guard formed and placed 
on duty at ihe lower end of the yards. 

The detail from B for this guard consisted of Corporal 
Wilson and Privates Overstreet, Perry, Powleson, Radke R., 
Radke G., Sindler, Shula, and Sieberst. 

The work demanded of this guard was decidedly onerous. 
They had several hundred yards of track to guard, all closely 
crowded with fruit-cars. The beats of the sentries, too, were 
none of the safest, These, with but one or two exceptions, 
lay between the crowded lines of cars, dark as a pocket at night, 
and very little better during the day. 



134 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The practice firing of the Eighth Regiment, which so aroused 
the American river bridge guard, startled these men as well, 
Privates Perry and Shula, ever ready in an emergency, mount- 
ing to the top of a box-car, and threatening to shoot the first 
man who showed his head above the bushes in the marsh 
which stretched away for a mile north to the river. Luckily, 
however, they were not called upon for an exhibition of their 
prowess . 

The work of pitching camp being finished, and the excite- 
ment over the departure of their comrades having subsided, 
our hungry soldiers, as is ever the case when at a loss for 
other amusement, turned their attention to their appetites, 
which, on investigation, they found to be quite keen. It 
was generally known on leaving the Capitol grounds that 
company mess was to be established, and soon eager voices 
were heard inquiring about supper. The meal served that 
night was one long to be remembered. A meal prepared un- 
der a combination of disadvantages rarely brought together 
on one occasion. Everything was confusion, and kicking, 
growling, and general dissatisfaction reigned supreme. The 
aching void felt by each lusty trencher-man urged him to 
lend his individual presence, and the aid of his voice in add- 
ing to the confusion, and causing greater delay. Our quarter- 
master was heard to remark that he received enough punish- 
ment that night to counterbalance all the "snaps he ever had." 

The commissary department was not yet ready to issue 
rations and would not be until 7 o'clock. Some of the com- 
panies had bought food, prepared a meal, and were eating 
before B had a sign of supper in sight. This was soon dis- 
covered by our hungry warriors, and the wail of anguish that 
went up in B street was heartrending. Captain Cook was, of 
course, immediately notified, and getting on one of his pro- 
verbial moves, he went to the quartermaster to learn why the 
other companies were eating and B. still waiting. The 
quartermaster explained; and then, resolving to make an- 
other effort to save the lives of his starving comrades, who had 
not even yet ceased to make inquiries about that supper that 
was not, started for the commissary department to see if it 
were possible to get any thing to appease the appetites of 
those hungry mortals of Company B. Presently loud words 
in the direction of the commissary department, accompanied 
by a rattle of tinware, attracted the attention of every one. 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 137 

Inquiry as to the cause elicited the fact that B's quartermas- 
ter was trying to "take" a ham, and, being caught, tried to 
argue the point with Commissary Fitz,but was finally forcibly 
ejected. 

Seven o'clock came and went, and still no rations. Some 
thing must be done immediately; and it was now that the 
little " takings" of the quartermaster showed their value. A 
fire was quickly started, and three scantlings lashed together 
atone end. forming a tripod, were placed over it; from the 
center a wire was suspended and the coffee-pot (captured and 
held for ransom) placed thereon. In a short time water was 
boiling and coffee made. The coffee and pot having played 
their part, the prepared beans, which simply needed heating 
to be very palatable, so neatly added to the company larder 
that afternoon by the quartermaster, and that very apt pupil 
in the art of " taking," Private Hayes, were then brought into 
service. Emptying five cans of them into a tin bucket they 
were placed over the fire to warm. About the time the regi- 
mental commissary department issued one boiled ham, twelve 
loaves bread, one roll of butter, and six dozen eggs. Willing 
hands and hungry mouths set to work making and marring 
sandwiches. Prominent among the mouth contingent was 
Sergeant Sieberst who was noticed to eat more than he made, 
and after a heated argument with the Emperor's finest, Paul 
Rupp, was told to amuse himself keeping the fire up. He was 
nothing loath, the beans being already very palatable. But Pri- 
vate Hayes, who had noticed the facility with which the worthy 
Sergeant could " turn a sandwich into a man," told him not 
to bother about the fire. Hayes was not a man to lend a hand 
to acquire anything and then get left himself. Quarter- 
master Clifford has learned this to be a fact, as since the cam- 
paign, he has discovered the cause of certain mysterious dis- 
appearings of canned oysters and a few other articles of 
more or less gastronomic value. 

The sandwiches were finally all made; and after the beans 
were thorougbly warmed, tbe eggs were put on and in a short 
time boiled hard. Imagine the inconvenience of cooking one 
article at a time, with a lot of hungry men waiting, like 
vultures, to devour it. It was fully 8 o'clock when supper was 
ready to be served. Each man stepped up and received two 
sandwiches, one egg, a small quantity of beans, and a cup of 
coffee. Another great disadvantage was the lack of tin plates, 



138 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

cups, forks, and spoons. There had been enough for about one- 
half the company served out to us, and when one man 
finished with a cup or plate, it was passed to another who had 
not yet been served. This, it was rumored among the boys, 
was another stroke of economic genius on a par with that 
"ample" breakfast and dinner of the 4th of July, by our 
brillant minded Adjutant General Allen, late 2d Lieutenant 
Commissary Department Missouri State Volunteers. Nobody, 
on this occasion, waited for fork or spoon, but used a piece of 
wood or any thing else that might answer the purpose. 
Occasionally the quartermaster's voice could be heard denounc- 
ing some hungry man for "repeating." After all had "scored," 
some being still hungry, sent to a neighboring store and pur- 
chased canned stuffs and crackers. Some took the entire 
situation good naturedly, but all seemed to think it necessary 
to stand round and echo the appeals of their inner man. 

Had we been camped in a strange country, with no base of 
supplies, we could hardly have been thrown more on our own 
resources than we were, camped in the city of Sacramento, 
the very town in which our adjutant general, who is quarter- 
master and commissary general also of the National Guard of 
California has his headquarters. 

Here was a commissary department under the direct eye of 
its chief thrown into such confusion by a simple change of camp 
that in a regiment of seven companies, six were forced to buy 
their own provisions, and the Seventh, waiting to be served, fin- 
ally received enough to satisfy about one-half their number, 
the coffee and beans, be it remembered, not being issued by the 
commissary department. And as if this alone were not bad 
enough, the men were obliged, on account of the scarcity of 
tin cups and plates, on which valuable articles some military 
wiseacre had thought well to economise, to wait in squads for 
their meal, which some did not taste until after 9 o'clock. 

Tattoo, at 9:15, found the men of B still airing their griev- 
ances; yet, having at least partially appeased their appetites, 
they willingly retired to their tents, where, of course, the 
orator of each tent crowd continued to hold forth. Taps came, 
and still the flow of oratory continued. On all such occasions 
as this, our watchful captain would wander down one side of 
the street and up the other, pull back the fly of each tent as 
he passed, poke his head slowly in and make his usual request 
to "Let's have a little quiet." It was on this occasion, we 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 139 

believe, that Johnny Gilkyson, of the wild Irish tent, the 
fighting; drummer, stunned our worthy captain and nearly 
convulsed his teiitmates by replying "How much worth, 
Captain?" Surprised at his own audacity, Johnny dived 
under the blanket of his bunky, who was nearly choked in his 
efforts to smother his laughter. 

Breakfast the next morning, that of Friday the 13th, served 
at 6 o'clock, found the men waiting and willing. This meal, 
prepared in the same manner as that of the previous evening, 
consisted of boiled eggs, bread, and coffee. This was, really, 
our first day at this new camp, work having been begun so 
late the day before that little more had been done than pitch 
the tents. After breakfast had been disposed of, the men of 
B, as of the other companies too, set to work with a will to 
put the street, their future home for nobody knew how long, 
into a habitable condition. Few shirked the work, and all 
seemed anxious to show that they had recovered from last 
night's ordeal. Some secured planks from a neighboring side- 
walk and stretched them across their tents at about the center 
to keep the hay used for beds from spreading; others made 
gun-racks of stray pieces of lumber to keep their rifles from 
the dust; while others took a hand-car, made a trip up the 
line some three or four hundred yards to the lumber-yard and 
secured material, out of which Monahan was soon busy manu- 
facturing tables and benches. But by far the most important 
work undertaken was the improvision of a fireplace over 
which all future meals must be prepared. During the morn- 
ing the captain issued orders giving full charge of the kitchen 
to Quartermaster Clifford and appointing Musician Paul Rupp 
company cook. Having been given charge of the kitchen, Clif- 
ford, aided by Sergeant Sturdivant, set to work at the 
fireplace. Taking the hand-car previously used that morning 
to carry lumber, Ramm, Clifford, Kelly, Monahan, and Flana- 
gan went on a foraging expedition to the railroad shops to 
secure the necessary material. Needless to say, they took 
every thing in sight light enough to carry. They overhauled 
a " dead " engine, securing wrenches, shovel, pick, pokers, 
and several other more or less handy articles. Longing eyes 
they cast on a pile of lanterns locked up in a caboose, but 
house-breaking, at least, was beyond them. In the yard they 
discovered a piece of sheet-iron to be used as a top for the 
stove, which was made of bricks, a short stovepipe, and a 
piece of iron pipe about twelve feet long, by bending which, 



140 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

at about four feet from each end, and driving the ends into 
the ground, a very serviceable substitute for fork and spit was 
made and used thenceforth to hang pots and kettles over an 
open fire. Thus, in a comparatively short time, our company 
kitchen was created and in operation. The railroad tracks, 
with the exception of the main line, were blocked at this 
place by hundreds of fruit-cars, loaded before the strike for 
Eastern shipment. During the day some skillful operator or 
break-beam artist managed to open one of these, and a general 
raid was made on the fruit by the regiment. It seems need- 
less to add that B secured a few boxes of pears; only a few, 
thirty or forty or so. Pears, raw or stewed, appeared on the 
menu at each meal from now until we left for Truckee. 

On the first day or two of this system of company mess, 
affairs did not seem to run as smoothly as was anticipated. 
The cooks were forced to chop their own wood and wash the 
dishes; and though there was food thrown away after each 
meal, many of the men were growling about not getting 
enough to eat. This was finally remedied by having the 
first sergeant detail squads each day to do the necessary 
kitchen work. This system proved an entire success and a 
great improvement, the meals being prepared more quickly, 
served better, and less food wasted. As a sample of the detail 
made each morning, we insert that for Wednesday, July the 
18th, the last day of our stay in this camp at Ninth and D 
streets. 

DETAIL FOR CAMP WORK JULY 18, 1894. 

Keane, Wise, McKaig, dishwashers; T. McCulloch, O'Brien, 
woodchoppers; Monahan, Overstreet, O'Malley, cook helpers; 
Perry, Powlesen, R. Radke, G. Radke, Stealey, Sieberst, 
waiters. 

Later on, when enough plates, cups, knives, and forks had 
been issued by the commissary department to furnish each 
man with a separate kit, the necessity for appointing dish- 
washers was done away with, as each man was supposed to 
use and keep clean his own kit. 

During the day several trips were made from the camp 
down the line to the American river bridge. One in the 
forenoon by Major Burdick, escorted by some of B's best 
marksmen, another under Corporal Jack Wilson, who was 
looking for adventure, but found only hard work; and still 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 143 

another in the afternoon by Kelly, Unger, and Monahan, "who 
were out on a foraging expedition. These latter went armed 
with revolvers, pumping with one hand and holding their in- 
struments of destruction in the other. On returning from 
their successful expedition they noticed an empty car just 
outside the lines of the lower track guard crowded with a 
dozen or more disreputable looking characters, tramps in all 
probability. On arriving at the guard-house of the track 
guard they informed the officer in charge, who sent a detail 
down on their car to make the arrest, We have received in- 
formation from a reliable source that a most determined 
resistance, a fight to the death, would have been made had 
not the opposing forces caught sight of Van Sieberst, thirst- 
ing for gore, whose face with its hirsute adornment of curly 
black whiskers, one " Wandering Willie" was heard to remark, 
would get up steam in a dead engine. So the arrest was made 
and the prisoners, a dozen or more, were marched up the line 
to general headquarters. 

At G p. m. the guards for the succeeding twenty-four hours 
were formed and sent out, Company G, as a whole, relieving 
the American river bridge guard, and guards, formed of details 
from the different companies, relieving the lower and upper 
track guards; that relieving the lower having no men from 
B, though commanded by Lieutenant Filmer, and that reliev- 
ing the upper, under charge of Lieutenant Lundquist, having 
with them Sergeant Kelly, Corporal Burdick, and privates 
Ban nan, Williams, Gilkyson, Freeh, Flanagan, Crowley, Zim- 
merman, and Baumgartner, detailed from B. 

The work required of this, as of the lower track guard, was 
most decidedly none of the easiest. Many narrow, dark streets 
and alleys ran into the tracks along which the sentries of this 
guard were posted, the tracks running within a few feet of the 
corners of these streets, necessitating extreme watchfulness on 
the part of the men. An unwary sentinel could be knocked 
senseless at any of these dark corners without the least diffi- 
culty or chance of exposing the assailant to the view of the 
other sentries. 

We in camp passed the evening quietly. This splitting up 
of the company seemed to act as a damper on the spirits of 
the men. Little of such hilarity as was indulged in on the 
Capitol grounds being even thought of here. Doubtless one 
of the main reasons for this could be found in the fact that 



144 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

it was more the rule than the exception that out of a tent 
crowd of six or seven there would be but three or two, or 
sometimes only one, left in camp to occupy the tent. 

"The shades of night were falling fast" 

o'er our little city of white, tatoo had sounded, and those who 
had not already retired were sleepily preparing to do so, when 
bang! bang! bang! went several shots down the line in the 
direction of the lower track guard over whose destinies Lieu- 
tenant Filmer, of " Ours," presided. Not waiting for the long 
roll, which was quickly sounded, nor for the calls of our first 
sergeant to " Fall in ! " " Fall in ! " those of us who were awake 
and dressed quickly buckled on our belts, snatched our rifles 
from the racks, and "Fell in" in the company street. The 
excitement was intense, and increasing every moment. Ex- 
citable men were dodging in and out of their tents, forget- 
ting their belts, forgetting their rifles, forgetting every thing, 
it would seem, but the fact that some one either was or had 
been " blazing away" down the line. One, almost delirious, 
was racing back and forth, shouting to our busy first sergeant, 
high above the noise created by the others: "Al, will I get rny 
leggins? " "Al, will I get my belt? " "Al, will I get my gun? " 

"Al, will I ." " Shut up, and fall in," almost yelled 

our harassed sergeant, as he wheeled round on the luckless 
wanderer, who jumped into his tent, and appeared the next 

moment, shouting: "Al, will I get ," but "Al" was not 

to be seen, and the anxious questioner who " was not scared, 
far from it," he only wanted to be told what regalia to appear 
in on such an august occasion, was compelled to fall in with 
the less punctilious members of the company. 

At the other end of the street an equally amusing scene was 
enacting. Charlie Perry, who had just finished a long twenty- 
four hours of guard duty, had gone soundly to sleep, but at the 
first note of alarm, dimly realizing that long roll had sounded, 
jumped from his blankets, dressed like a flash, grasped his 
rifle, and sprang forth from his tent. Still half asleep, he 
arrived in the middle of the street, brandishing his rifle, and 
threatening to " blow the head off" of every striker in Sacra- 
mento. It took all of the muchly-overworked "Al's" persua- 
sive powers to get the redoubtable Charlie into the ranks, 
where he undoubtedly would have done much to make his 
promise good had the opportunity offered. 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 145 

The opportunity did not offer, however. At the first note of 
the long roll the captain dispatched two men down a narrow 
alley, which appeared to afford a short cut in the direction of 
the firing, to investigate how far the alley was open. They 
reported it open for at least a block, affording a chance for a 
quick passage to the street below, which led directly to the 
tracks at the point where the track guard was posted. 

By this time the cause of the firing had been discovered. 
A sentry, posted near the crossing of Tenth street and the 
tracks close to the point at which Tenth street becomes sim- 
ply a road through the marsh between the levee and the river, 
was the primary cause of the excitement. He had been one of 
our later arrivals. Coming up the river on the boat he had come 
in contact with two disreputable looking characters, who made 
it their business to advertise the fact that they were ex-con- 
victs, and boasted loudly of what they intended to do, on their 
arrival, to the " blue coats." 

While pacing his beat he noticed these same two strolling 
round, just outside the lines, in a most suspicious manner. 
Finally, making up his mind to question them, he challenged. 
Not waiting for a second call, the supposed ex-convicts rushed 
across the road, and over a low fence into a barnyard. The 
sentry opened fire in the direction in which they had run, 
and kept it up lustily, though the night was so dark he could 
not see objects clearly thirty feet from his beat. Great was 
the excitement of the guard, as, led by Lieutenant Filmer, the 
reliefs not on duty rushed down to the scene of the firing. 
But by this time the rattle of musketry had ceased, and the 
only sound to be heard was the groan of some wounded crea- 
ture in the barnyard. On investigation it proved to be a horse, 
so badly hurt as to make it necessary, next morning, to put 
the poor animal beyond reach of pain. 

This, indeed, proved a rather tame ending to all the excite- 
ment at camp, but thus it was. 

To go back to the American river bridge guard. After a 
cautious run of about fifteen minutes the train arrived at the 
bridge. Most of the railroads in this county are built on the 
levees. At this point on the American the levees on either 
side are about one-half a mile from the banks of the river. 
Consequently, while the bridge over the river proper is of no 
great length, the approaches of trestle-work on each side from 
the levee to the bridge form a very extensive work to guard, 



146 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

in all fully a mile and a quarter in length. There were two 
bridge-tender's houses raised on piles, and connected with the 
track by a small platform large enough to hold a hand-car for 
the use of the tender. These houses were built one at each 
end of the bridge proper, or just over the banks of the river. 
On account of the nature of the ground, the guard was divided 
into three sections, the first of about twenty-five men, under 
Lieutenant Dumbrell of C, relieving the regulars on guard at 
the nearer end of the trestle; the second of about ten men, 
under First Sergeant McNally of G, relieving those who, sta- 
tioned at the first tender's house, guarded about one hundred 
yards of trestle and the bridge; and the third, composed of 
the remainder of the guard, under Lieutenant Eggert of F, 
relieving those who guarded the half-mile of trestle on the 
farther side of the river. With this latter guard went the 
squad from B, under Corporal McCulloch. His brother, 
the doctor, expecting this to be the point at which his services 
would be most liable to be called for, was also stationed here. 
This bridge duty proved to be what the boys called a " snap." 
The third division of the guard bivouacked on the bank of the 
river, a little to the rear of the bridge-tender's house. A 
camp fire was lighted, details for guard made, and the sentries 
for the succeeding two hours posted at intervals in the shadow 
of the trestle, along its half-mile of length. The men, tired 
with their day's work at pitching camp, and one at least of 
B's men, having served night and day on the two just preced- 
ing days, rolled in their blankets, stretched themselves on the 
windward side of the fire, with their feet as close to it as the 
combustibility of leather would allow, and composed them- 
selves to sleep. This sleeping, however, quickly proved a 
most difficult undertaking. They thought that their Sacra- 
mento experience had made them "skeeter proof"; but the 
present experience surpassed their wildest imagination. They 
heard not the hum, but the flapping of the wings, of countless 
swarms. One facetious young man claimed he had killed a 
bat; but it was found to be only an innocent mosquito, who 
had intended relieving the soldier of one of his brass buttons. 
Now the smoke of the fire came into use; but these did not 
seem to be the kind of mosquitoes you read about; they were 
impervious to smoke, much to the disgust of the men. Lying 
there, the lucky ones with handkerchiefs over their faces, 
the poor harassed soldiers would hear, first, a song of 
" cousin-n-n," as a thirsty skeeter hovered over his prey, 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 147 

and then a vindictive " ping-ng-ng " as he swooped down on 
some exposed spot. The victim's turn would now come, how- 
ever, and a vigorous slap would be heard, then a grunt of 
satisfaction, or a growling voice inviting the escaped ma- 
rauder to take a pleasant journey to unknown regions. How- 
ever, sleep will come under almost any circumstances to the 
really tired, and the men gradually fell asleep in spite of their 
winged tormentors. They had rested less than half an hour 
when they were sharply wakened by four or five shots fired 
in quick succession, followed by yells for the " Corporal of 
the guard." In a flash a dozen or more had thrown off their 
blankets, grasped their rifles, and were running along over 
the uneven ground, led by Lieutenant Eggert, in the direc- 
tion of the shots. This run proved how ineffective was this 
method of posting the sentries on the ground. At places a 
sentry who had to patrol one hundred yards of bridge could 
not see ten paces from him, and had to pick his way carefully 
over the uneven ground, and, in one place, around the edge 
of a swamp. Calling as they went, the guard continued to 
run in the direction in which the shots had been heard, and 
came upon the sentry, after having run a full half-mile. He 
was stationed at the extreme end of the trestle, at the point 
where it meets the levee on which the remainder of the road 
is built. He had fired, he said, on two men coming along the 
levee toward the trestle, and who had run down the embank- 
ment and across the field on being challenged. The com- 
mander of the guard, after questioning the sentry closely, 
decided to double the number of sentries, and consequently 
the length of time to serve, and stationed them on instead of 
under the bridge, warning the men to avoid, as far as pos- 
sible, exposing themselves against the sky-line. The new 
sentries were posted in squads of two at about every third 
water barrel along the bridge. B's men, all of whom had 
joined in the run toward the firing, were placed on this new 
detail. Nothing further of an exciting nature happened dur- 
ing the night; but some thing of a most disgraceful nature did 
happen during the four hours, from 10 p. m. till 2 A. m., this 
same detail were on guard. Private O'Brien of B, who, with 
Private McKaig of the same company, was stationed at posts 
6 and 7, growing cramped and cold in his crouching posi- 
tion, decided, at about 1 a. m., to warm himself by patroling 
in the direction of posts 8 and 9. He was promptly chal- 
lenged by the sentries at these posts, and, on his coming 



148 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

back, McKaig decided to patrol in the direction of Nos. 4 and 
5. Moving carefully along over the ties, and keeping a sharp 
lookout, he expected each moment to be challenged. He was 
not, however, and, wondering whether he had miscalculated 
the distance, kept on. Soon a most surprising sight met his 
eyes. The two sentries, not men of B company, we are 
most heartily glad to say, were stretched across the ties, 
sound asleep, with their loaded rifles lying by their sides. 
No punishment is too severe for such a crime. Little account 
need be taken of such an occurrence were the worthless lives 
of the culprits the only ones in jeopardy; but a sentry on 
duty at a camp, where the lives of his comrades depend on his 
watchfulness, or when on any other important guard duty, 
who deliberately lies down and sleeps at his post, as these 
two had evidently done, merits any punishment, no matter 
how severe. In the case of these two worthies it would seem 
to be a common practice, for they were again found asleep 
under the bridge while on duty next day. 

At 2 a. m. the first detail, which had now served four hours, 
was relieved, use being made for that purpose of a hand-car 
on which Major Burdick, accompanied by his Adjutant, Lieu- 
tenant Hosmer, had come down the track on a tour of inspec- 
tion a few moments before, bringing with him a most welcome 
pot of coffee and can of sandwiches. Of the latter, however, 
the detail just relieved saw little, each man getting about half 
a sandwich, the other men of the guard, who had been re- 
freshed by four hours of sleep, having thought it their duty 
to see that the sandwiches were properly disposed of before 
these really tired men arrived at the campfire. 

The men on this guard were a most voracious set, as B's 
detail found out to its sorrow next morning. The rest of the 
night passed quietly, and daybreak found our men, with the 
exception of George Heizman, again on guard. On being re- 
lieved these men found that breakfast had been already 
cooked, served, and eaten, great care being taken, as during 
the night, that nothing should be left for the men who were 
yet to be relieved. All this, too, in spite of the fact that a B 
man, Heizman, of whose comrades the present detail was 
mainly formed, had kindly acted as cook. The tired and 
hungry men of course "raised a kick," but as usual each in- 
dividual warmly denied having "doubled up" on his allow- 
ance. It was in a heated argument with one of these lusty 



AT NINTH AND 1) STREETS. 140 

eaters, whom lie hud found seated near the lire letting out a 
hole or two in his belt, that a B man held that he of the 
belt was not singly a hog but one of a drove close at hand. 

However, the breakfast, which had been a fine one, consist- 
ing of coffee, green corn, potatoes (secured at a Chinese ranch 
some distance up the American), and corned beef hash, in 
which form alone would the boys now consent to eat that 
awful canned corned beef, had vanished; and the first detail 
had still to be fed. Realizing this, George Heizm.au , who is a 
real chef, set to work making more coffee and hash, and 
explained the locality of the ranch from which the corn had 
been secured. Resolved not to feed less highly than the gour- 
mands of the guard, Kinky McKaig, Billy O'Brien, and a 
private of A started up the river toward the ranch, which 
they found after a tramp of about two miles and a half. 
Here, by means of promises to have the trains running inside 
of a few days, they secured a sack of corn, half a sack of po- 
tatoes, and enough garlic, which they thought were onions, to 
have sent an Italian army into paroxyms of glee. Returned 
to camp, they found that Doc Tom McCulloch, had, by using 
moral suasion, secured a five-gallon can of milk from a 
rancher on the other side of the river. After such a scramble 
we may well imagine the meal was enjoyed; and so it might, 
as it was the best consolation to be obtained, sarcasm making 
not the slightest impression on their well-fed comrades. The 
rest of the morning passed quietly, some of the men taking 
a plunge in the river, and the others stretched lazily about the 
remains of the previous night's fire "swapping lies." A visit 
was paid the guard by Corporal Jack Wilson, that worker — of 
other men — who came down the line on a hand-car, which, 
however, he kindly allowed others to pump. Not much in- 
formation was derived from him as to the condition of affairs 
in town, the amount of pumping he had done on the way 
down, and who would have to do the work goiug back, being 
his sole topic of conversation. 

Shortly before noon the guard was startled by a few shots 
heard in the direction of town, then a volley, and soon round 
after round was fired as from a gatling gun. The excitement 
soon became intense, and as the firing continued, the excited 
men climbed up the bridge at a point from which the white 
clouds of powder smoke could be seen rising, apparantly, just 
to the left of the Capitol dome which could be plainly seen 
high above the trees which hid the rest of the town from 



150 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

view. Many were the explanations offered, tho' none seemed 
to doubt it was a battle, and seemingly a very serious one. 
Some thought the strikers had attacked the depot; others 
that they had attacked the Third Regiment camp; but far 
the most popular explanation was that the attack was on the 
camp of the First at Ninth and D streets. Some stormed 
furiously at the luck which kept them all this distance from 
the place where the " fun was going on," while others were 
perfectly contented thus far out of bullet range, and seemed 
to think this bridge guard a greater snap than ever. Soon a 
hand-car bearing Major Burdick came rushing down the line 
pumped furiously by an excited squad of soldiers. Seeing 
the car coming, the men rushed down, rolled their blankets, 
slung their haversacks and canteens, and were starting to 
climb up onto the bridge, the whole excited guard of about 
twenty or more expecting to be carried off on a hand-car 
large enough to hold six. 

The major, however, blasted their hopes by telling them 
that he knew as little about the firing as themselves. He 
thought, he said, that the regulars were breaking up a camp 
of strikers farther down toward the Sacramento, and explain- 
ing that the strikers would retreat in this direction, ordered 
out a squad of skirmishers under a corporal to check their 
advance toward the bridge. Now, as usual, the volunteers 
were importunate, but the detail was taken by roster and the 
majority of the volunteers left disconsolate. They were com- 
forted, however, when, shortly after the departure of our 
anxious major up the line, and of the squad through the 
bushes down the river, the firing ceased as suddenly as it had 
begun. It gradually dawned on those left behind that this 
could not have been a battle, could, in fact, be none other 
than practice by the batteries still on the Capitol grounds; and 
then the realization of the work before that now unlucky 
squad made them smile in quiet contentment. Two hours 
later, worn, weary, and bedraggled, the luckless men strag- 
gled into camp, paying no attention to the sarcastic grins of 
their heartless comrades, but stretching themselves on the 
ground where they were dismissed, were soon sound asleep. 
Never a word of thrilling adventure did they offer. The 
subject was tabooed. 

So the day passed. The bridge guards now numbered only 
four and were posted every hour. Posted by telling the next 
man for duty to go out and relieve the man who had been on 
an hour. 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 151 

Later in the day Tom McOulloch and Billy O'Brien, who 
had gone to the south side of the bridge to get more milk, 
provided they had the persuasive powers, met Sergeant Kelly 
of the Irish gang, Billy Unger the "regular from Arizona," 
and Lengthy Monahan, who had come down on a hand-car on 
a foraging expedition, having heard of the green corn. They 
had bravely ventured down the line armed only with revolv- 
ers, scorning the escort of Springtields. Every resident or 
harmless tramp met on the way was instantly covered by two 
open mouthed bull-dog revolvers, while the other of the trio 
of heroes calmly pumped the car out of range. Hearing about 
the milk McCulloch and O'Brien had come for, Kelly accom- 
panied them to the dairy, where another five-gallon can of milk 
was secured for the company. Crossing to the other side, 
O'Brien volunteered to lead them to the Chinese ranch from 
which the corn had been secured. The distance surprised 
them greatly, as they had been told the ranch was just outside 
our lines. This time the Chinaman was very reluctant, but 
finally picked two sacks of corn, when, in addition to the 
arguments used by our foragers, he was shown the mechanizm 
of O'Brien's Springfield and the size of a cartridge. In addi- 
tion to the corn a quantity of potatoes was secured, and, sling- 
ing the sacks over their shoulders, the tramp back began. 
Their surprise at the distance now soon gave place to disgust, 
and resolutions to quit work for the rest of the campaign were 
quickly made and broken by these hardy warriors. 

As the day advanced Tommy Eggert, of negro minstrel fame, 
struck up an acquaintance with the bridge-tender's family, and 
learning they had a banjo, quickly possessed himself of it, 
promising, with the aid of the guard, to furnish an entertain- 
ment unrivaled in history. This he did, tothe satisfaction of 
the guard and his new-made friends, at least. No one ac- 
quainted with the versatile Tommy, who has, since the "war," 
made a record as the nominator of unsuccessful candidates at 
the late municipal convention, can doubt for a moment the 
success of his impromptu entertainment. All the musically 
inclined of the guard stretched themselves on the ground in 
the deepening shadows and chorused to Tommy's negro ditties. 

Shortly before sunset the train bearing the guard for the next 
twenty-four hours arrived, and the men reluctantly boarded the 
train which was to carry them back to Sacramento, away from 
the only pleasant duty they had yet been called upon to per- 



152 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

form, already looking anxiously forward to the time when they 
would again be detailed to guard the American river bridge. 

The next day, Saturday, the 16th, little of any importance 
occurred. B street was comparatively deserted, at least half 
of the company being on guard. Those not on duty were to 
be found either reclining in the shades of the trees on the 
grounds of the "Haunted House," or assisting at the few 
things still necessary to be done about the company street. 
Monahan, aided by a corps of amateurs, was manufacturing 
benches. Rupp and his assistant cooks were busy improving 
the store and preparing for the noon meal. McKaig and 
O'Brien were taking turns at the washtub, while O'Malley 
and half a dozen others were stretching a large hospital 
tent fly, which this same O'Malley, the pill-roller, had pur- 
loined from the regimental baggage, over the street from tent 
to tent, making a most welcome shade. This fly was the envy 
of all the companies, as the sultry heat of the sun had not 
abated in the least since our move from the soft grass of the 
capitol grounds to the hot, dusty street at the railroad yards. 

Bearing in mind the grand success achieved by the patent 
shower bath at our last camp, and longing for the delights 
of cold water on a warm day, the boys of the regiment 
soon improvised in a deserted stable in the rear of headquar- 
ters another bath quite as successful, tho' not as fancy as the 
last. This, in fact, needed two to operate — one man ''play- 
ing the hose," while the other, between gasps, scrubbed him- 
self. 

During the morning old "Lou the Vet" had his picture 
taken. Come, now, don't laugh! Of course, we know Lou 
neyer yet missed an opportunity to pose, but in connection 
with this picture an incident occurred which showed the 
effect of Lou's forty years of discipline. He had arranged this 
morning with Lieutenant Hosmer to have himself " kodaked," 
and was proceeding toward the battalion adjutant's tent, 
carrying his rifle with him ("parade rest" is Lou's only pose), 
when he met the colonel and promptly saluted. 

"Corporal Townsend," said the colonel, " what is the first 
duty of a soldier?" 

" To obey," answered the corporal, again saluting. 

Just at this critical moment, when the extent of Lou's knowl- 
edge of " tictacs," as the new recruit once called it, was about 
to be thoroughly investigated Lieutenant Hosmer appeared, 
bearing the kodak. 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 153 

" Ready?" he asked. 

" Ready!" answered Lou. 

The kodak was about to snap, when the colonel ordered 
"About, face!" 

Promptly obeying the order, Lou "came about," and the 
picture became, not a front, but a rear view. 

Lou had shown that he could act as well as answer, and as 
a reward had his much desired " parade rest" taken. 

Later in the day, Lou having occasion to drop in at the 
hospital, he discovered that there were four unused hair mat- 
tresses, neatly covered with bedclothes, stretched on the floor 
of one of the rooms. What a shock the sight gave him, poor 
man. He began to feel " symptoms," and soon " had 'em 
bad." He wandered round the grounds, casting longing looks 
upward at the windows of the room in which those unused 
luxuries lay. 

"Was he sick enough yet?" he wondered, " or would Doc 
O'Brien give him pills, not a bed?" 

He finally settled the question to his own satisfaction, and 
seeing Private Hayes standing by the fire, Lou, with a face 
twice its natural length, slowly approached, and, leaning 
weakly on the shoulder of the stalwart private, began, in a 
voice, " hoarse with suffering": 

"Hayes — I really — must go to the hospital. This is no — 
place for — me. It's a great mistake — I feel it now," pressing 
his hand to his side. "And Hayes, like a good fellow — they're 
cooking something — here, will you see — that I'm not for- 
gotten — that I get some thing — to eat — when I go to the — hos- 
pital?" 

" Most certainly I will, Lou," answered Hayes, feeling a 
great wave of sympathy welling up in his heart of hearts for 
his poor, stricken comrade. 

" Thank you — Hayes," answered poor Lou, in a pain-stricken 
voice, as he wandered slowly and feebly off toward the hos- 
pital and those four neat beds, where, by the practice of his 
arts, he succeeded in establishing himself as an occupant of 
one. He now regained his voice and spirits miraculously. 
Meantime Hayes, with whom pity was but fleeting, went as- 
siduously on with his work as scullery maid, and it was not 
long before Lou and his sufferings were entirely forgotten. 
The dinner was cooked and served, and the tired cooks and 
waiters had seated themselves down to enjoy their own meal. 
They, too, had almost finished, when O'Malley rushed across 



154 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

from the hospital and demanded of Hayes the meal he had 
promised to send Lou. Consternation! What were they to 
do? Rupp, the careful, never would cook too much ; it took 
the united efforts of all to persuade him to cook enough. 

However, making a virtue of necessity, and well knowing 
Lou's capacity, sick or well, they gathered together a plateful 
of untouched pieces of stew-meat and potatoes, heaping it to 
the full with the remainder of their own meal, persuading 
Clifford, much against his will, to contribute a plate of stewed 
pears he was then eating, and O'Malley, himself, donating a 
plate of ice cream, so called, bought at the Japanese mission, 
Lou's dinner was sent to him, with many kind inquiries as to 
his health. Later in the day Hayes made a party call on Lou, 
who, thanking him profusely, declared that day's meal the 
best he had eaten in Sacramento. Future cooks on future 
campaigns many, many years hence remember, when cooking 
for Lou, that quantity, not quality, is the test. 

Lou was so well pleased with himself and the world in gen- 
eral on this occasion that he became very facetious, telling a 
certain visitor that he had discovered, since his incarcera- 
tion (?) in the hospital, "that the house really was haunted ; 
the spirits were in the closet; have a drink." 

All this day the yard engines were busily steaming back and 
forth, making up trains, and, in the fore part of the afternoon, 
the first train for the East, carrying with it several Pullman 
cars, pulled out of the yards. As it passed our camp, at Ninth 
and D streets, it was cheered long and lustily by the soldiers, 
who felt that the leaving of many more such trains would be % 
the signal for their return home. 

This day undoubtedly saw the breaking of the backbone of 
the strike. Never was the Sacramento railroad yard so busy 
as now. Switch engines were dashing back and forth, clear- 
ing the tracks and making up long trains of freight and pas- 
senger coaches. Many of the firemen and brakemen, who had 
been forced out against their will and better judgment, were 
glad of the opportunity to return to work. 

Little or no sympathy was felt by the soldiers for the strik- 
ers. The majority of them wage-earners themselves, they felt 
that the great cause of labor against capital was injured, not 
benefited, by such strikes as these. Never in the history of 
the world has a strike, great or small, been won by violence; 
and this was pre-eminently a strike of violence. While j)ro- 



AT NINTH AND D STREETS. 155 

fessing to act peaceably, they had made all possible prepara- 
tions for even a revolution against the authority of the gov- 
ernment. They had sent to all parts of the state, gathering 
together men the most lawless, and armed them with Win- 
chesters and stolen rifles. They had loaded a car with giant 
powder and dynamite and rolled it into the station, ready for 
use — an awful engine of destruction, which, had they succeeded 
in exploding at the right time, as they most undoubtedly in- 
tended to attempt, would have shaken the very city to its foun- 
dations, and sacrificed the lives of all, soldier and civilian 
alike, within hundreds of feet of the depot. The}^ had loaded 
an old cannon to the muzzle with scrap iron and bullets and 
planted it in the marsh within two hundred yards of the sta- 
tion, but seemingly lacked the courage, not the desire, to dis- 
charge it, And last, though by no means least, they had made 
the devilish preparations for slaughter described in a former 
chapter. 

Add to this terrible list of at least intended crime that most 
cold-blooded, red-handed murder of their own comrade, Sam 
Clark, the engineer, and of the four United States soldiers, 
who were doing a duty they had taken a most solemn oath to 
perform when they swore to uphold their country and its 
laws against all transgressors, and not only the lack of sym- 
pathy, but the great and all-absorbing desire to mete out de- 
serving punishment for such a fearful crime, which possessed 
the citizen soldiery, cannot seem strange. Who or what but 
a scurrilous daily sheet, cringing and toadying even to such 
bloodthirsty murderers as these, for the sake of an added sub- 
scription or a vote for its owner, should he run for office, could 
feel kindly toward a cause supported by such methods as these? 

We are most heartily, profoundly glad to add here that at least 
one of the assassins (Worden) who planned and executed the 
wreck of that train and the murder of their fellow-beings has 
been sentenced to pay the penalty with his life, and that over 
the lives of six others the same fate hangs. May full justice 
be meted out to them. 




CHAPTER IX. 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 



TOWARD evening B Company received orders to be in 
readiness to relieve the company on guard at the 
bridge over the American river. This was hailed as 
glorious news both by those who had already been there 
and those who had lived in anticipation of this trip to 
that paradise of posts. Even to a stranger the eagerness 
of the men, as they rolled their blankets or packed their haver- 
sacks, would plainly indicate some pleasant duty about to be 
performed. Now, in the minds of many, a grave question arose, 
prompting those, at least, who had already served at the bridge 
to avoid all collisions with the captain, namely, "Who should 
remain behind, in charge of the street and tents?" 

Deep was the thought on this vexing subject, when the 
astounding news spread through the street that Max Claussenius 
had volunteered to remain in charge. Wonderful self-sacri- 
fice ! Of all deeds the most heroic of the campaign ! 

At six o'clock the upper and lower track guards were re- 
lieved, our boys from the upper guard joining the company 
as it fell in in heavy marching order, preparatory to boarding 
the train for the bridge. Having received his orders, the Cap- 
tain led the company to the train, on which we were quickly 
hurried off toward the bridge. 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 159 

As the train sped down the line many ami great were the 
efforts of the boys to " fix it with First Sergeant Ramm," so 
that they might be posted at the most desirable end of the 
bridge. All seemed to want the same place, the farther end, 
which Dame Rumor had declared to be the better of the three 
posts. However, despite the most Trojan efforts, no "fixing" 
could be done, it having been decided by the powers that be 
to make no details until we had reached the bridge, and re- 
lieved the old guard. This having been done,, the following 
details were made up and announced : 

Officer of the day, Captain I. B. Cook. 

DETAIL FOR SOUTH SIDE. 

Officer of the guard, Lieutenant Filmer; Sergeant W. N. 
Kelly; Corporals B. E. Bnrdick and A. McCulloch. 

Privates of the guard, Baumgartner, Freeh, Fetz, Heath, 
Heizman, Gehret, Overs' reet, Perry, Radke, R., Radke, G., 

Sieberst, V., Williams, and Wise. 

DETAIL EOR CENTER GUARD. 

First Sergeant A. F. Ramm; Lance Corporal W. Unger. 
Privates Bannan, Gilkvson, Monahan, O'Brien, and Sind- 
ler. 

DETAIL FOR NORTH SIDE. 

Officer of the guard, Lieutenant Lundquist; Sergeants B. B. 
Sturdivant and W. H. Sieberst; Corporals; Wilson and Burtis. 

Privates of the guard, Adams, Claussenius, Crowley, Flan- 
agan, Gille, Hayes, Keane, McKaig, Powleson, Stealey, Simla, 
Tooker, Wear, Wilson, and Warren. 

Sergeant Clifford and Musician Rupp looked after the cui- 
sine, intending to do the cooking for all three at the camp of 
the last detail. 

The different details having been made, they were sent each 
to their respective posts, there to await the arrival of their 
supper, which was then in course of preparation. The pro- 
cess was slow, extremely slow, the trouble with the dishes still 
continuing. Finally, the cooks, who had in their hurry en- 
tirely lost sight of the center squad, declared enough to feed 
the guard at the other end had been cooked. Placing the 
rations for seventeen on a handcar, it was dispatched in all 
haste to its destination. But when it reached the waiting and 
watching seventeen it was reduced to rations for ten. The 
seven doughty warriors posted in the center of the bridge had 



160 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

found themselves " between the devil and the deep bine sea," 
and, calling a hasty council, had decided to make a fight for 
life. Well knowing the advantage to be on the side of the 
party which strikes the first blow, they solemnly agreed to 
halt that handcar if it ever came by, demand their rations, 
and, if none were forthcoming, help themselves, and send the 
messengers on; on, it would seem, to sudden death, could 
speech of man kill, when the now extremely slim meal reached 
those hungry seventeen? Returning, the car came at a furi- 
ous pace. It was easy to see that a fire-eating delegation had 
been sent down to inquire into the whys and wherefores. 
But the center squad cared not. They had dined, and dined 
sumptuously; and now let "the devil and the deep blue sea" 
fight it out between them. A compromise was finally made 
between these two by cooking more, and meantime declaring 
that " that center squad " had caused all the trouble by not 
consenting to be starved, as gentlemen should under such 
circumstances. However, to the center squad this did not 
seem to give full consolation to the belligerents, as they, the 
center squad, were most roundly abused each time a handcar 
passed. 

In the mean time sentries had been posted in reliefs of five 
men each at the north end of the bridge, in reliefs of two in 
the center, and of four at the south end. The night, cold, a 
chilly wind blowing steadily down the river, and whistling 
through the timbers of the bridge, passed quietly at each post. 
On the north side the watches were extended to three hours, 
but on the south side and in the center the regulation two 
hours on and four off was observed. At about midnight the 
company commander made a tour of the guard on a hand- 
car, signaling with a lantern as he approached each sentry, 
whose challenges those on the car could not hear, and whose 
very presence those pumping seemed to ignore, several of the 
sentries having to spring onto the farthest projecting tie as 
the car dashed by, grazing their clothes as it passed. 

The usual early morning mistakes were made. On the 
guard at the north side Private Joe Keane mistook the morn- 
ing star, shining, large and bright, amongst the tops of the 
swaying trees, for a signal lantern and was proceeding to shoot 
the " signaler," when the man on the next post assured him 
of the unfortunate star's identity. 

Much amusement was caused on the south side by Private 
Perry's call, in the early morning, for the corporal of the 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 161 

guard, asking whether he should shoot a rabbit then in the 
road, to have, as he expressed it, " something good for break- 
fast." This guard, indeed, seemed to be a guard of strong 
sporting propensities. Private Freeh of the next relief was 
seen, a short while after, crawling along the road, almost on 
hands and knees. His observer stood breathless; surely a 
dynamiting striker had been discovered. But no; Freeh, too, 
was thinking of that morning's breakfast, and, unlike Perry, 
intended to " shoot first and challenge afterward." However, 
his stalking proved a failure, and, returning to his more oner- 
ous duties, was content, on being relieved, with his breakfast 
of bacon, mush, and coffee. 

As day broke, the heavy, sultry atmosphere gave promise 
of a day whose heat we, camped on the banks of a cool, quiet 
river, felt we need not fear. Few, if any, could resist the 
temptation of a plunge. Every spare moment was devoted to 
the river, swimming, wading, plunging, wrestling, ducking, 
and racing along the stretches of sandy beach, no schoolboys 
could have enjoyed their holiday more. 

The heat in Sacramento must have been terrific. Handcar 
after handcar, pumped by perspiring humans, who gazed 
with enraptured eyes on the river as they drew near, came 
down the line in a long procession. 

As far as food was concerned open warfare had now been 
declared between the three guards. Triangular hostilities, in 
which the small center squad, but for its extraordinary exer- 
tions, appeared sadly in danger of being worsted. However, 
they avoided further strife by gaining possession of their " raw 
materials," and then, through Lance Corporal Linger, doing 
their own cooking. The squad on the south side did the 
same, Private Heizman acting as chef. This did not entirely 
settle the question, however. There was our noontide keg of 
beer; which guard should send to Sacramento for it? Strife 
had opened anew between the center squad and the guard on 
the south side. Handcars had come down in such numbers 
that had a train under escort come through, all could not be 
removed from the track in time to avoid a collision. Seeing 
the danger, First Sergeant Ramm ordered his sentries to 
halt all handcars and call for the corporal of the guard. 
Shortly after these orders were issued Private Monahan chal- 
lenged a carload of men from the south guard. Not heeding 
his call, those in front fixed bayonets, and the others, increas- 
ing the speed of their car, rushed at the sentry, who jumped 



162 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

from the track to the platform to avoid being spitted on the 
bayonets. This angered the center squad, who then refused 
to let any more from that guard pass without an order from 
the officer of the guard. Seeing challenges to be of no avail, 
the sentry would sit on a box between the tracks, with his 
back toward the oncoming car, which then invariably stopped 
before striking him. This, then, was the state of affairs be- 
tween these two guards when the beer subject was broached. 
Each guard declared that they, and none other, should send 
to town for the keg, the more violent men from the south side 
declaring that, should they send, the center squad need expect 
but the dregs. 

Thus the dispute went on till finally a car from the south 
guard was sent for the coveted prize. 

This beer was ordered to be given to the men at the begin- 
ning of the campaign by Major Galwey, medical attendant and 
commander of the hospital corps of the regiment. He held 
that more sickness was caused on July 4th by drinking Sac- 
ramento water than by heat, and consequently, when camp 
was established, ordered the men to drink nothing but black 
coffee, and the beer issued to them at noon each day. To set 
the fears of our temperance friends at rest, we will explain 
that this was issued in a small five-gallon keg — enough, when 
carefully measured, to furnish each man with an ordinary 
glassful per day. Later a keg of barley water was kept stand- 
ing in each camp, and, though not very palatable, was well 
patronized during the heat of the day. 

Not having sent for the beer our center squad resolved to 
stop their rivals as they passed on toward the north guard at 
all costs. Shortly before the noon meal was over the sentry 
on guard called "Here comes the beer!" Grasping a can in 
one hand and a log of wood in the other, Monahan rushed up 
the track, threw the wood across the rails, and awaited devel- 
opments. Rushing along without any apparent slackening 
of speed the car struck the log, rose in the air and came 
down again on the tracks with the wood jammed between the 
front and rear wheels, the car immovable until lifted from the 
track and the log removed. Having halted them Monahan 
had no trouble drawing the beer, paying no attention to the 
abuse heaped upon him. Having drawn more than the 
proper allowance, we are afraid, he helper! them remove the 
log and sent them on their way warning them to treat the 
center squad with more courtesy in future. 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 163 

So the day passed. Swimming, disputing, guarding, and 
sleeping in turns, we made the most of this our first company 
" picnic." No such opportunity for the perfect enjoyment of 
camp life had before presented itself, nor did we expect such 
another. Our reluctance to leave them may be imagined 
when about dusk the usual combination flat-car and day coach 
train arrived, bearing our relieving company and ready to 
carry us back to our camp in town. Slowly and sadly we 
climbed on board, the engine whistled, and, casting longing 
eyes toward the quickly disappearing bridge, we were rushed 
on toward town. 

Some time before the company left the bridge our cooks 
went to camp on a handcar with the praiseworthy object in 
view of having the company meal ready on its arrival. De- 
spite the fact that a member of the company had been detailed, 
at his own request, to take charge of the company street while 
we were away, no preparation for the company's arrival had 
been made. The street was unclean, the table and benches 
were thrown together in a heap, and not even a stick of wood 
chopped. What our worthy private could have been doing 
with himself for the last twenty-four hours was a mystery to 
our thoroughly disgusted cooks. We must be careful to men- 
tion, though, that one thing had been done. The rations had 
been drawn, and were now tossed in a heap in the quarter- 
master's tent. 

Despite the unsatisfactory appearance of things, however, 
our cooks managed to have a hot supper ready by the time 
their hungry comrades appeared at camp. 

Monday, the 16th, was for us of B Company essentially a 
day of rest. No guard details were called for, some of our men 
having already served forty-eight consecutive hours. 

An event of this day, however, served to open our eyes to 
the awful depths to which we had fallen; how, as members of 
society, we had deteriorated during our short campaign. At 
dinner on this day Doc Sieberst, who was acting as waiter, 
carrying round a pot of stew in one hand and a ladle in the 
other, noticed Frank Sindler narrowly scanning a very doubt- 
ful looking plate, before calling for his rations. Stepping 
over and looking at the plate, Doc carelessly remarked: " It's 
only dirt." 

•' Oh, is that all," answered Sindler. " Give me some stew," 
he resumed, as he held out the plate, and busily assaulted the 
meat and potatoes which Doc ladled out for him. 



164 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The evening of this day saw our turn for guard duty come 
round again. A guard of thirty privates, three corporals, and 
a sergeant under Lieutenant Filmer relieved that on duty at 
the upper yards. The ground to be covered by this guard 
extended from the crossing of Seventh, D, and the tracks, 
along the tracks to Sixth and E streets, and thence along the 
spur tracks on Sixth street, running in front of the Southern 
Pacific foundry, to H street, at the point where the latter street 
runs into the China slough or Sutter lake, in all a distance of 
about one-third of a mile. Ten sentries were posted at equal 
distances along this line, their orders being to allow no person 
without a written permit to cross the tracks towards the 
Southern Pacific buildings, but not to interfere with any person 
passing along the open highway on the opposite side of the 
tracks. The sentries whose beat brought them near the cor- 
ner of any street also received orders to disburse any crowd 
gathering on the cross streets. 

The night, both in camp and on guard, passed quietly. The 
men had by this time become veterans to a certain extent, 
and each night now saw them quietly retire to their tents, 
even before tattoo, all thought of skylarking and "horse play " 
apparently left behind at the old camp on the Capitol grounds. 

The onerous guard duty they were now called upon to per- 
form had perforce caused a change in their spirits since our 
new camp was established. Each man was called upon to do 
forty-eight consecutive hours of guard duty out of seventy- 
two. Thus for two days he would be constantly on duty, 
managing to snatch in all about four hours' sleep each night, 
rolled up in his blanket with his rifle constantly by his side, 
not daring to remove even his leggings. The third day, from 
six o'clock one evening till six o'clock the next, very naturally 
became a day of laziness. Having had only eight hours' sleep 
during the preceding forty-eight, and knowing that the 
succeeding forty-eight hours would be but a repetition, it is 
little wonder that the men in camp each night, only about one- 
fourth of the regiment, retired willingly to their tents at the 
first beat of the tattoo. 

B Company received an accession this evening of three of 
its members who had reported at the armory on the night 
of the third too late to leave with the regiment, or who failed 
to receive their orders, namely, Privates George Bowne, A. B. 
Snell, and Fred Pariser. On Tuesday evening Sergeant 
Taylor and Privates Beseman, Casebolt, and Ungerman 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 165 

arrived. These were the last arrivals before Companies A 
and B left for Truckee. 

One arrest was made by this guard. The event occurred 
in the " wee sma' hours," the principal actors being Freeh, a 
featherweight, and one of Uncle Sam's children, a giant ma- 
rine. Freeh, catching the marine trying to sneak across the 
line after a night's carouse, facetiously ordered him to throw 
up his hands, and then bawled lustily for the " Corporal of 
the Guard, No. 6!" The corporal found Freeh and his cap- 
tive holding quite a heated argument as to the propriety of 
the rather Black Bart style in which the marine had been 
halted, the captive still pointing to the clouds, under the per- 
suasive powers of the little German's Springfield, though 
threatening dire vengeance, and Freeh promising to "fix it " 
with the corporal if the marine "would be good." 

At about 6 a.m. the strikers who had returned to work be- 
gan to arrive, coming across posts 9 and 10, especially, in 
such numbers as to require the assistance of a corporal in 
examining the passes. The increase in the number of men 
who came across each morning seemed to indicate an ap- 
proaching stampede in the ranks of the strikers. It could 
not come too soon to please us. 

The trouble with the subsistence department still continued. 
Despite the most frantic efforts of our quartermaster sergeant, 
we could neither steal, borrow, nor persuade the commissary 
department to give us enough kitchen and table utensils with 
which to properly feed the men. Surely, it would seem, suffi- 
cient time had elapsed since company mess was talked of and 
inaugurated to secure dishes enough to supply even Emperor 
William's army. But doubtless we, the great uninitiated, 
cannot appreciate the stupendous amount of work necessary 
to be done to supply such an immense army as we, a few hun- 
dred men, camped in the very heart of a large city, consti- 
tuted. Probably it still continued to be a " holiday, and the 
stores closed," as they told us on the Fourth, for which weighty 
reason we had taken in an extra hole or two in our belts, and 
consoled ourselves with the knowledge that if we were hun- 
gry, we at least knew the patriotic motives which caused us to 
be so. What! Ask a man to open his store on the Fourth of July, 
that greatest of all days in the history of our country! Never! 
Rather let our patriotic rank and file hunger (we may eat at an 
hotel) than desecrate that glorious day by common barter. 

"And we praised the little General 
And we spoke in better cheer." 



166 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

And so the trouble continued. On such days as this, when 
the company was divided, no separate rations were issued to 
the guard; of what use would it have been? The guard had 
no means of cooking it. But full rations for the company . 
were issued at the camp. Though in other companies we 
have known this to have been cooked and eaten entirely by 
those in camp, no account being taken of their tired and hun- 
gry comrades on duty, in B Company, the best possible, 
though still very unsatisfactory, system was in use. Having 
received the rations the cooks prepared the meal, if possible, 
enough for all; if not, enough for the guard. This, at least, 
having been prepared, all the available tin plates, forks, knives, 
and cups were gathered, and, with the pots of food, were placed 
upon a handcar and pumped up the line to the place at which 
the guard was located. Here, those not on actual duty finished 
their share as quickly as possible, and then went out to relieve 
the sentries. These, too, having finished, the now empty 
utensils were returned to the handcar and brought back to 
camp. Here, of course, the men were by this time rampant, 
and another scurry would have to be made to appease their 
inner man, who seemed to find such loud expression of his 
woes. 

The afternoon of this day, Tuesday, became so hot that the 
men on guard at the tracks felt constrained to organize and 
set in operation another shower-bath company; this they suc- 
ceeded in doing, utilizing a shady and quiet spot amongst the 
lumber-piles in the yard, fortunately very close to a faucet, to 
which they attached a hose, purloined from, Heaven and the 
"taker" only know w 7 here. 

At 6 o'clock Tuesday evening our guard was relieved, very 
tired, and glad to return to camp; though the dust did cover 
every thing, tents included, an inch thick, every incautious 
step raising a cloud which obscured even the sun. 

Now the members of the relieved guard heard for the first 
time that Billy Tooker, that prince of hard workers, had that 
day received a furlough, and had already gone home. After 
his departure the work about camp languished, no man in 
the company being found who could take his place and do 
full justice to the position, as could the former incumbent. 
Billy returned to us, though not in time, we are sorry to say, 
to accompany us to Truckee. 

Tuesday night gave our new arrivals their first experience 
of a sudden call for duty. Tattoo had sounded and all the 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVEK BRIDGE. 167 

camp was quietly preparing to retire. Many had already 
wrapped themselves up in their blankets and gone to sleep, 
when suddenly several shots were fired by a sentry of the 
camp guard, who was posted just above the camp on the line 
of the tracks. Instantly the long roll played by the musicians 
of the guard echoed over the camp. Not waiting for orders, 
the men tumbled out of their tents, grasping their rifles in one 
hand and cartridge belts in the other, and formed in the com- 
pany streets. Considerations of dress were put aside, each 
man thinking himself fully equipped for fighting if he had on 
his trousers and belt and his rifle in his hand. 

On this, as on the former occasion, the cause of alarm 
proved but trivial. Some skulker amongst the fruit-cars had 
approached the line of camp sentries too closely, had been 
seen and promptly challenged. He escaped by darting round 
the end of a car and making off down the tracks. His escape, 
however, proved on investigation to have been very narrow. 
The bullet was found to have passed through the corner of 
the car, only half an inch from the open space above the 
trucks. The succeeding shots were fired by the sentries down 
the line, who had probably caught a fleeting glimpse of the 
now flying form as he dashed from one car to another. Others 
of the shots were doubtlessly fired by men whose fingers 
seemed to itch to pull the trigger whenever their rifle was 
loaded with ball cartridge. 

No more skulkers or probable "angels of destruction" in- 
tent on using "dynamite with discretion" being found, the 
companies were dismissed, the men returning to their tents to 
seek the "arms of Morpheus" until awakened by the reveille 
next morning. 

This recall from the land of dreams was sounded earlier 
next morning than usual. On the day before circulars had 
been issued by the management of the railroad company offer- 
ing work to all who had not taken an aggressive part in the 
strike, and as a consequence many were expected to return to 
work, while serious trouble was looked for from the malcon- 
tents. 

The principal entrance to the shops and yards is from the 
southeast, at about Sixth and H streets, to which point the 
first battalion of the First Regiment had been ordered to pro- 
ceed and prevent any violence while the men were returning 
to work. 



168 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

While we all knew what duty we were about to perform, 
the usual "joshing" went on in the ranks at the expense of 
the timid ones. Some joker professed to have heard that the 
strikers were going to make an effort, at last, to try their 
strength with us, and decide the question of supremacy for 
good. This form of joke soon wore out, and we turned our 
attention once more to dynamite, that most fruitful theme. 
We pretended to have heard that our company alone was about 
to be ordered to Reno, where we had heard the strikers were 
using dynamite "with and without" discretion — in fact, reg- 
ulating the amount applied to each individual soldier in the 
most careless manner. We decided in the course of our debate 
on dynamite and its uses, to which those for whose benefit the 
long harangues were given listened with bulging eyes and 
chattering teeth, speaking only to ask questions, that death 
being the object, dismemberment, thus far an incident, was 
really unnecessary; a judicious use of that most costly explo- 
sive would fully express their displeasure at our principles 
and accomplish the desired result physically, without unnec- 
essarily mangling our persons, and leave at least a small 
chance of collecting a respectable portion of our anatomy to 
which to give Christian burial. 

Our rather gruesome fun was cut short, however, by the 
order to march. We proceeded along the tracks to the point 
at Sixth and H streets at which trouble was most likely to 
occur. None, however, did occur, and after having made a 
sufficient display of our strength to those who gave us a glance 
iu passing, we were quietly returned to our camp and to our 
waiting breakfast, a far more important subject of discussion 
than strikes, or even dynamite. 

During the day a rumor gradually spread that A and B were 
to be sent to Truckee, taking ten days' rations. Here, indeed, 
was a prospect of change. How we canvassed the question, 
and listened to each new r rumor as it was brought in from 
goodness only knows where ! 

Three B men left for home on furlough during the after- 
noon. They were Private Max Claussenius, who had received 
his furlough some days before, Dr. Tom McCulloch, of the hos- 
pital corps, and Private Warren, who had received a telegram n 
from his employers ordering his immediate return. 

We passed the afternoon in a fever of expectancy, hoping 
against hope that the rumor would prove true. How anx- 
iously we watched headquarters, where there did seem to be 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 169 

an unwonted stir. Soon our suspense was relieved ; we re- 
ceived the order to strike camp and have our outfits packed, 
ready to board a traiu for Truckee at six that evening. We 
received the order with cheers, and set to work with a will, 
rolling blankets, packing knapsacks, lowering tents, and carry- 
ing our baggage and rations to the track. It is safe to say 
that A and B were most heartily envied by the members of 
the less fortunate companies, and many were the hopes ex- 
pressed by the members of other companies that theirs, too, 
might be sent. But no such good fortune was in store for them; 
A and B alone had been ordered to prepare, and there was little 
chance of a change. Never did National Guardsmen work 
more willingly or respond more promptly to the order, "Fall 
in !" as when, under the command of Major Burdick, our little 
battalion was formed in front of regimental headquarters. 

Here Colonel Sullivan spoke to us feelingly, wishing us 
godspeed and exhorting us to do our full duty as patriotic 
soldiers and citizens under every trying circumstance w r hich 
the future might have in store for us. 

Giving three rousing cheers for our colonel, we were marched 
to the tracks in the rear of our camp, there to await the arrival 
of the train which was to bear us some two hundred and fifty 
miles away over the high Sierras to the scene of our future 
operations. 

Shortly after six the train arrived, and, with a rush, we 
boarded our sleepers, threw down our knapsacks, and turned 
for a last look and wave of the hand at the camp and com- 
rades we were leaving, for none could tell how long. 

As here in Sacramento, so in the other parts of the state 
and in Chicago the great strike was on the decline. Since 
the train wreck and murder of the eleventh the chance of suc- 
cess had vanished, and public sympathy, to a great extent, had 
turned from the strikers. Worden, since sentenced to hang, 
was arrested for this crime on the fourteenth, and Harry Knox, 
the leader of the A. R. U. in California, was arrested on the 
day following as an accomplice. 

Through the middle and southern part of the state, San 
Jose, Stockton, Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Diego, business 
remained at a standstill. The portion of the First Infantry, 
U. S. A., ordered to Los Angeles on July 2d still had charge 
of the depot and saw that no disturbances occurred. Affairs 
had quieted so in San Jose, that Company D of the Fifth In- 
fantry, N. G. C, Captain Elliott, was recalled and ordered to 



170 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

report to Colonel Fairbanks at Alameda. The work of the 
National Guard under General Muller had been thoroughly 
done from the start, in the San Joaquin valley, and now their 
work of guarding trains and bridges went quietly on. 

In Sacramento and Oakland the deadlock was now thor- 
oughly broken. On the fourteenth the first train in two 
weeks arrived in Sacramento from Oakland by way of Benicia 
and Davisville. Four trains, including an overland, left Sac- 
ramento, the overland being the first train to pull out with a 
Pullman car attached. 

On the fifteenth and seventeenth, detachments from A and 
B of the Sixth Infantry, N. G. C, were sent to Dunsmuir from 
Sacramento under Colonel Nunan. Here they remained until 
the twenty-fifth guarding trains and bridges when they were 
relieved by Companies A and F of the Second 

In Chicago, President Debs of the A. R. U. now seemed to 
despair. Arrested for conspiracy and thrown into jail, his 
followers from one end of the land to the other seemed to 
desert him. In vain did he send out telegrams beseeching 
them to stand firm. Vain were his announcements that busi- 
ness in Chicago was paralyzed. He realized the strike was 
lost, and knew the loss could be ascribed to no other cause 
than the strikers' violence. 

Throughout California the strike was admittedly lost. On the 
twenty-third General Dimond issued orders for the Fifth In- 
fantry at Oakland to withdraw from camp, for Sheehan's 
command to be dismissed, and at San Jose for the men to re- 
turn home. At a conference held in the governor's office, it 
was decided to withdraw the different regiments of the Na- 
tional Guard as soon as practicable. The San Francisco reg- 
iments, the First and Third, would be soon ordered home, and 
their work taken up by Colonel Park Henshaw and the Eighth 
Infantry. 

On the same day on which this conference was held eight 
hundred and twenty men returned to work in the railroad 
shops, and one thousand applications for work were received. 
Still with the tenacity of despair the different leaders were 
sending "success" and "stand fast" telegrams to all parts of 
the country. 

Arrests of leaders on charges of obstructing the mails, con- 
spiracy, and insurrection now became common. Marshal 
Baldwin was busily arresting all the active spirits of the strike, 



AT THE AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE. 



171 



and the trial of Worden, Hatch, Knox, and others for murder 
was progressing at Woodland. 

Two different attempts at train wreck, now that the strike 
was lost, undoubtedly made for revenge, were frustrated, the 
second only after a lively exchange of shots between a detach- 
ment of regulars and the wreckers. 

So toward the end of July the strike slowly resolved itself 
into a legal tight in the courts of the country. Every leader 
of prominence was arrested, and the minds of all were fully 
occupied in their various attempts to escape their threatened 
punishment. 

This, then, a thousand criminal suits throughout the laud, 
was the end of the greatest railway strike in the history of 
our country. A strange end indeed. 




L NATIVE PATRIOT. 




CHAPTER 

OFF FOR TRUCKEE. 

" No matter what the journey be, 
Adventurous, dangerous, far; 
To the wild deep, or black frontier ; 

To solitude, or war — 
Still something cheers the heart that dares 

In all of human kind, 
And they who go are happier 
Than those they leave behind." 

Edward Pollock. 

i[S the train started off, our thoughts reverted to those 
left behind. There were two, private William Too- 
ker, and Doc. O'Malley. Tooker was absent from 
, camp on a furlough, and was expected to return the fol- 
lowing day; while the doctor, in response to a call for 
medical assistance, had been sent that morning to the 
guard stationed at the American river bridge. 

Concerning Tooker, we felt sorry at the thought of the dis- 
appointment and suffering our absence would cause him; for 
who would care for William now? It pained us to think that 
he would be ordered about by rude and thoughtless officers, 
and made to do that which is so distasteful to his gentle nature 
— work. We anticipated the effect that our departure would 
have upon O'Malley. As the train rushed over the bridge 
and past the station where the guard was posted, we saw him 
sitting listlessly upon a camp-stool, dreaming his life away, 
and living, perhaps, only in the hopes that the night was 
drawing nigh, when once again he would be united to his 



AT TRUCKEE, 173 

dear comrades. But, alas! So perfect was his listlessness 
that even the rattling of the train over the bridge failed to 
produce the slightest signs of life. He sat, like a lifeless 
mass; and it was only when our cries of "O'Malley, O'Malley, 
good-bye; we're off to Truckee! " echoed through the air, that 
he sprang to his feet and gazed around in a bewildered man- 
ner, as if doubtful what he heard or saw was real or fanciful. 
His face " grew sad by fits, by starts — was wild." Then, 
realizing only that he was being left behind, he started after 
the train at his topmost speed, crying, frantically: "Stop that 
train! Sto — p! " The last thing the company saw of O'Malley, 
on its upward journey, was a small, indistinct figure, waving 
its arms madly, as if it were trying to fly. 

Tooker came back the next day and joined O'Malley in his 
grief and lamentations. They tried to console each other, 
not by making the best of a bad job, but by cursing and 
denouncing every one for miles around. Tooker couldn't 
see why the Colonel would n't send him up to Truckee to join 
his company, and took every opportunity of arguing with 
those he came in contact with, why he should be sent, 
and how foolish it was to keep him at Sacramento. He 
convinced every one, to his own satisfaction, that such was 
the case. O'Malley made life unbearable at the hospital, re- 
fusing to do any thing but nurse his own grief. 

These two unhappy mortals met one day on the deserted 
and tentless street of the company, and, with clasped hands 
and bowed heads, silently contemplated the deserted spot, and, 
as they thought of their dear comrades far away, great 
tears rolled down their cheeks. " Billy," sobbed Doc, " we're 
the only ones left." Then they threw their arms around 
each other, and with their heads resting on each other's 
shoulders, their whole frames vibrating with convulsive 
sobs, stood for hours. It was while in one of these attitudes 
that Dr. Galwey came along, and, with his Kodak, took the 
picture which adorns the head of the chapter. 

During our ride to Truckee, a guard was kept continually 
on the platform of the cars, with orders to drop off at each 
stop and prevent any one from interfering with the air-brakes. 
A guard also rode on the engine. We found, as we proceeded, 
that each bridge and trestle was guarded by United States 
soldiers, and it was then that the nature of the work intended 
for us became apparent. 

As we advanced into the Sierras, we were entranced with 



174 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. Nature was in all 
its summer glory — not a cloud in the sky to diminish the 
radiance of the sun. On all sides the mighty and everlasting 
mountains reared themselves, height upon height, until their 
snow-topped summits seemed to join the earth and sky; and 
far beyond we caught glimpses of glistening, snow-clad tops, 
which looked like the foaming crests of mighty waves. Deep 
in the wooded canyons, seen through a maze of green, 
streams, like silver threads, pursued their tortuous and 
winding course. 

The mighty effects of water caused in hydraulic mining 
were everywhere discernible, huge mountains having been 
worked away to get at the gold. The water used for this pur- 
pose was carried to the miner through miles of sluices. These 
sluices now, on account of the cessation of hydraulic mining, 
are neglected. Where they bridge a gully the water leaks out 
and falls in rainbow-tinted sheets into the depths below. 

We arrived at Blue Canyon, where we had supper, about 
dusk. Here a great number of the " boys " were taken in by 
their curiosity to see the red bat (brick-bat) that this moun- 
tain town has on public exhibition. 

Night brought with it a glorious moon and the snowsheds. 
Oh ! how we did anathematize those snowsheds ! What pano- 
rama of mountain, vale, and lake, bathed in moonlight, their 
rough boards shut out from our view ! The little glimpses 
caught here and there at breaks in the sheds were only an 
aggravation. 

Shortly before our arrival at Truckee, Major Burdick 
stepped into the car and made a little speech, the substance 
of which was as follows: He said he had been given to under- 
stand that the situation in Truckee had assumed a very 
serious aspect; that he would expect us to meet this condition 
bravely and with becoming gravity, and, by showing a serious 
and determined front to the strikers, impress them with the 
fact that we meant business. Furthermore, we would be 
under the eye of Col. Gunther of the regular army; and he 
hoped that, by our soldierly conduct, we would favorably im- 
press the colonel with the worth of the National Guard in 
general and the First Regiment in particular. 

This speech had its desired effect, for, during our stay in 
Truckee, not a striker approached the camp. No doubt, when 
they saw our fierce and warlike appearance, they fled to their 
mountain fastnesses, not to return " till the flying of the snow." 




:j 



AT TRUCKEE. 177 

We arrived in Truckee at 10:15 p. m. Our cars, with two 
freight-cars, were side-tracked and became our home while 
there. The cars were tourist cars, and we were therefore able 
to make ourselves very comfortable. It was a luxury to sleep 
on a mattress once more. 

Thursday morning, July 19th, was ushered in with the 
regular camp routine, roll-call, Captain's speech, and break- 
fast. Clifford, with the aid of our head cook, Paul Rupp, had 
a breakfast prepared for us, consisting of fried ham and bacon, 
bread and butter, and coffee. We dined standing. Each 
man, before leaving Sacramento, was provided with a tin cup, 
knife, fork, spoon, and plate, and, of course, was supposed to 
see to the cleaning thereof himself, the result being that the 
dishwashing detail was done away with altogether — a great 
improvement indeed. The cleaning of pots and pans was 
looked after by the culinary department. 

It may be just as well here to preface the history of our 
week at Truckee with a short account of the trials and tribu- 
lations of those who presided over the culinary department, 
together w r ith the trials and tribulations of those who looked 
to it for three meals a day. For the first three days, Thursday, 
Friday, and Saturday, all meals were cooked at camp. A kitchen 
was improvised in the road by the side of the cars, a wind-break 
erected, and a fireplace built. Sergeant Sturdivant was ap- 
pointed commissary for the company, and in a short time was 
able to quote prices on canned goods and other kinds of pro- 
visions. He tried to do his best, poor man, but overlooked 
the fact that life was a howling wilderness to the dudes of the 
company without milk and sugar for their coffee and butter 
for their bread. There always seemed to be a great shortage 
in these articles. The tall sergeant explained this matter by 
stating that the lack of railroad communication was the cause 
in one case, and a scarcity of cows the cause in the other. 

Sergeant Clifford, Musician Paul Rupp, and an able assist- 
ant developed in the person of Gus Ungerman, an old-time 
cook, who went about the pots and pans in avery professional 
way, presided over the kitchen. The great waves of disgust 
caused by internal strife and outward "kicking" occasioned 
the tendering of daily, or we might say " mealy," resignations 
of some one of the cooks. It is needless to say that the resig- 
nations were not accepted. Heated arguments with any of 
our cooks was out of the question; they were all able-bodied 
men, and were invariably armed with a stout ladle or long 



178 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

cooking-fork, which they nourished in a most threatening 
manner. 

At meal hours, or at times when the cooks started to pre- 
pare the meal, the adjustable tables in the cars were lowered, 
tin cups, tin plates, knives, forks, and spoons were put in 
place, and each man jack sat with a wolfish appetite and im- 
patiently waited for an hour or more the arrival of the food. 
The waiters' lives were not happy ones; fortunately they 
were relieved every day, or the chances are we would have 
developed a number of raving maniacs. 

The following is a pretty fair illustration of the service 
that prevailed: A man with a pot of mush dashes into the car 
yelling, " Who wants mush?" and, with a flourish of his ladle, 
goes down the aisle filling the outstretched plates. Close on 
his heels comes another man with a pot of potatoes bawling, 
"Who wants murphies?" Another meanders through with 
fried meats of some kind. 

All this time the men are shrieking for milk and sugar for 
their mush. The coffee now makes its appearance, and men, 
whose cups had mysteriously disappeared, have been known 
to offer their plates as a receptacle for this dark colored fluid. 
The bread puts in its appearance now, hut no butter. Mean- 
while, from the car windows, the hungry soldiery are hurling 
anathemas at the bewildered waiters, or beseeching them for 
an extra allowance of stew or a little more hash, a conglomera- 
tion that would give an ostrich the dyspepsia. Finally, after 
the men in despair have waded through their mush, potatoes, 
coffee, and meat, the sugar and butter, with a very limited al- 
lowance of milk, put in their appearance. Men with foresight 
and taking ways committed the wholesale larceny of butter 
and sugar and took their chances as to the milk. Much but- 
ter and sugar seemed to stick to the long slender fingers of 
the learned McCulloch, who only let the replenishment of the 
inner man interfere with his study and discussion of recondite 
subjects. The strong military instinct of Burtis and Hayes 
impelled them to keep a good reserve of these dainties always 
on hand. Frequent battles took place upon the platforms, 
between rival waiters of each car, for the possession of some 
coveted pot of beans or stew, while the onlookers held their 
breath expecting every moment to see the contents of the pot 
dashed to the ground. 

By Sunday the officers came to the conclusion that it would 
be more economical and convenient to eat in town, and were 



AT TRUCKEE. 179 

successful in making arrangements for board at the Truckee 
hotel for the balance of our stay. This was a change that was 
hailed with joy by all, particularly Beseman, who developed 
a fearful aud wonderful appetite while at this place. He was 
the first to sit clown and the last to reluctantly leave the table. 

Before proceeding further, we feel it our duty to gratefully 
recognize the efforts of our patriotic cook, Paul Rupp. His 
was a thankless job; and only a man of an extremely good 
natured disposition could have put up with the trials he was 
subjected to. Cooking for 50 or 60 men three times a day 
with the most primitive appliances, good Lord deliver us! 
Paul, a crown of glory awaits thee in heaven, for nothing 
mortal man could do would, in our estimation, sufficiently re- 
ward you for all you put up with while holding the position 
of head cook to the City Guard. 

After breakfast the bedding was spread out on the road to 
air, with orders that it should be taken in at 12 o'clock; the 
boys cleaned out the cars, and got every thing in readiness 
for inspection of quarters During the forenoon, as no re- 
strictions had been placed on the men as yet, a number of 
them went into Truckee to make needed purchases, and in- 
cidentally to inspect the town. This last did not take up much 
time, as Truckee, though a railway center of some importance, 
is a very small place. The Truckee river runs through the 
town, its banks lined with the humble homes of the native 
American. As it is considered the finest trout stream in the 
state, it yearly attracts a large number of sportsmen. It is 
indeed an ideal stream, full of depths and shallows; dashing, 
whirling, foaming over rocks, to find rest in quiet stilly pools, 
or to move along with grandly irresistible force. Long 
stretches of its banks are devoid of brush, giving the angler 
ample opportunity to utilize his skill in casting. The fish 
caught is the gamest of the game, and an}' one who has ever 
had the pleasure of dining on Truckee trout will attest to its 
eating qualities. 

Truckee is a great lumber district. A number of sawmills, 
driven both by water and steam power, border the river's 
banks. Apart from its lumber interests, Truckee derives a 
great deal of its importance from the handling of ice. Above 
Truckee there are a number of large ponds of smooth water 
which produce annually two or three crops of ice from twenty 
to forty feet thick. These two industries give employment to 
large number of men. 



180 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Some of the boys, anticipating an opportunity to try their 
luck fishing in the river, bought fish-hooks and lines. They 
met with very little success, however. The noble game in 
these waters are not to be caught by the primitive hook and 
line of the farmer boy. 

Early in the afternoon five details were formed to guard 
bridges. The commissary issued provisions for each detail, 
sufficient for twenty-four hours, taking as a guide as to quan- 
tity the following list, furnished by a regular army officer. 

For seven men — one day — three meals. 
7 lbs. of fresh meat or 5 lbs. of salt meat; 10 qts. of coffee; 
7 lbs. of potatoes; 3£ lbs. of beans; 11 lbs. of bread. 

For four men — 1 day — three meals 
4 lbs. fresh meat or 2f lbs. of salt meat; 6 qts. of coffee; 4 
lbs. of potatoes; 2 lbs. of beans; 6 lbs. of bread. 

Thus supplied we were soon speeding to our destinations. 
On the way it was discovered that one of the bridges to be 
guarded was beyond the state line, therefore no detail was 
posted there, as it is against the law to take the militia out- 
side of the state for active duty. As we arrived at each post, 
Major Burdick and a few of his officers left the train to see 
what arrangements could be made for boarding the men; the 
desire being, if possible, to do away with the necessity of hav- 
ing the men do their own cooking. Their efforts were crowned 
with success at Prosser Creek, Boca, and Cuba, but the last 
station, No. 24, a bridge about three miles from the state line, 
was too isolated for any arrangement of the kind. The men 
at this post, therefore, had to do their own cooking. At the 
first station, Prosser Creek, a detail consisting of a corporal 
and three privates of Company A, were posted. They slept in 
the bridge-tender's house, and had their meals at an eating- 
house about half a mile up the canon. The rose-colored re- 
ports brought back by these men about the goodly table set at 
this place made every man anxious to go there. It was the 
duty of the guard to watch the bridge vigilantly night and 
day, and allow no one to loiter on it, or in its vicinity; to 
challenge all persons approaching the bridge after dark, escort 
them across, and make sure that they continued on their 
way. Private Sullivan of ours, a few nights later, had the 
pleasure of doing the honors for a " Wandering Willie," bent 
on crossing the bridge. This character informed Mr. Sullivan 



AT TRUCKEE. 181 

that if he had known he was to receive such distinguished 
consideration at the hands of so courtly a gentleman (Mr. 
Sullivan was at one time the Ward McAllister of Los Angeles 
society), he would have had a magnificent load aboard, many 
opportunities having presented themselves to him during 
that day for absorbing liquids that not only stimulate but in- 
toxicate. The dread, however, of crossing the bridge in an 
inebriated condition had prevented him from embracing them. 
And as " Willie" shambled off, he heaved a heart-breaking 
sigh for the delights that might have been, resolving in his 
mind that should the tide of affairs ever be so favorable to 
him again he would take advantage of them, despite the 
dangers of a bridge or flood. 

Prosser creek bridge is located almost nine miles east of 
Truckee. The Union Ice Co. has made this one of its largest 
supply stations. The company has built a dam across the 
canon, imprisoning the waters of Prosser creek so success- 
fully that the average crop of ice each season is sixty thousand 
tons. This immense crop necessitates the employment of a 
large force of men. Substantial quarters have been built on 
the lake shore for their accommodation. It was at this place 
the guard did its most effective work, punishing good food 
three times a day. 

Boca was the next post. Here Major Burdick made ar- 
rangements with the Boca Hotel to provide the men with 
food. They bivouacked in a box-car. The duties and in- 
structions were the same as those in force at Prosser Creek. 
Corporal J. N. Wilson, privates Freeh, Fetz, and Gehretof our 
company were dropped off here. From this place, also, the 
men returned with expanded girths, in evidence of their 
sumptuous fare. 

The next post proved to be a place called Cuba, distant 
about fifteen miles west of the Nevada state line. The detail 
posted here were men from our company, and consisted of 
Sergeant Walter Kelly, privates Adams, Bowne, Bannan, Baum- 
gartner, Beseman and Claussenius. The property at Cuba to 
be guarded consisted of two trestle-bridges, one of them of con- 
siderable length and covered, a culvert, switches, and an ice- 
house. The men were quite comfortably situated. The su- 
perintendent of the National Ice Company placed a small store- 
house near the track at their disposal, and furnished them 
with large, thick, strong mattresses. They had their meals 
at the superintendent's house; but after the second day he 



182 



THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 



refused to feed the men any longer, giving as his reason that 
he feared the strikers would wreak vengeance on him for 
harboring them, by destroying the property under his charge 
when the troops were removed. It is believed, however, that 
the appetites of the men had more to do with his change of 
heart than any fear of the strikers. He had not calculated to 
satisfy the cravings of men who had for two weeks been living 
on bacon, ham, canned corn-beef, and leather steaks, and 
whose appetites were sharpened by the bracing air of the 
mountains. 






p-^'m' 




THE COVERED BRIDGE AT CUB 



Negotiations were then opened with the superintendent of 
the People's Ice Co., and very satisfactory arrangements 
made for boarding the men. 

The guard duty here was not arduous. The day watches 
were of one hour each, and only one sentinel was neces- 
sary. The night watches were two hours in duration, and 
during that period two sentinels were constantly on guard,, 
one being posted at the west end of the long bridge, and the 
other patrolling the balance of the line, alternating hourly 
with his comrade. 



AT TKUCKEE. 183 

During that night two men presented themselves, claiming 
to be section-hands sent there for the purpose of guarding the 
bridges. The sergeant informed them that he and his men 
were there for that purpose, and did not need their assistance. 
It was with difficulty that the sergeant restrained the bellig- 
erent Bowne and Adams from falling on these men and 
doing them great bodily harm. With a baleful gleam in his 
bloodshot eye Bowne watched them until they disappeared 
in the darkness to return no more. 

The antiquated bridge-tender indulged in a fairy tale at 
the expense of our " boys." He told them that two wildcats 
came down to the clearing on the mountain side every morn- 
ing at 6 o'clock to bask in the sunlight. The " boys " bit 
with avidity, and the bridge-tender had the pleasure of seeing 
them take positions commanding a view of the spot, and 
with loaded rifles watch and wait for the cats that never 
came. 

The train containing the last detail continued in an easterly 
direction, following the course of the Truckee, the scenery 
becoming wilder and grander as we progressed. The moun- 
tains seemed to be closing in around us; the waters of the 
stream, in keeping with its surroundings, raced with madden- 
ing speed through narrowing channels, foaming, whirling, 
tumbling over miniature falls, until, gliding into broader space, 
it swept along with stately silent dignity, to be again trans- 
formed into a roaring torrent between confining walls of rock. 
Now and then the sides of the gamey trout flashed in the 
sunlight, as if the exultant spirit of life and strength within 
it, disdaining the confines of its watery home, longed to soar 
in the bright sunshine. At last the train stopped at what 
seemed to be the most delightful spot of all, the last railway 
bridge in the state of California, and within three miles of 
its boundary lines. This is a solidly constructed steel bridge, 
and spans the Truckee. To the left of the railroad, a short 
distance from the bridge, was a small cabin; it was beautifully 
situated, overhanging the stream, with a flight of steps leading 
down to its waters. The most fastidious disciple of Isaac 
Walton could not desire a more perfect spot for a camp. 
Corporal Burtis, privates Hayes, Heizman, and Keane, with 
their rations, were put off here. A more delighted quartet 
could not be found; the surroundings suited their sensitive, 
aesthetic natures. They did not care if they were stationed 
there for a month. Major Burdick, with Colonel Gunther, 



184 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

United States Army, standing by bis side, gave his instruc- 
tions, to tbe effect tbat stranded theatrical companies, " hobos,'" 
etc., crossing the bridge should be watched closely until they 
were out of sight. He cautioned the men to be very careful 
about using their weapons, delivering himself of a sentiment 
that should go down in history as a shining illustration of 
the gallant major's humanity, a sentiment that no doubt will 
be found written in letters of gold upon the great judgment 
book, " that he would rather have them not shoot at all, than 
kill an innocent person." Think of it, ye beetle-browed 
sons of Mars, in whose breast the desire for martial strife is 
rampant, and whose fiercest delight is found in the shedding 
of human ber — lud! Think of the example set you by our 
dashing major; profit thereby, and let not your thirst for 
gore steel your hearts to the cry of the innocent. " And, cor- 
poral," he continued, "I do not think it advisable to let your 
men go in swimming." As the men gazed down into the 
raging waters, they wondered if the major thought them 
lunatics. No sane man surely would risk his life by attemp- 
ing to bathe in that swiftly flowing current. From the burden 
and tenor of his closing remarks, it was quite plain that the 
major felt sorry at leaving the men in this lonely spot, 
and would no doubt have continued for some time longer 
with cautions and fear-allaying words, had he not been inter- 
rupted by Corporal Burtis, who respectfully saluted and told 
him "he need not be in any hurry to relieve them." This 
was too much for Colonel Gunther, who placed his plump 
little hand over his face and chuckled audibly. " Oh! you're 
in no hurry to get back then, eh? " replied the major; then 
bidding them good-bye, he clambered back into the car, the 
engine whistled, the train rolled away and left them alone in 
their glory. The opening of the cabin door revealed a very 
clean interior, and the men were therefore nothing loth to 
drop their blankets and equipments on the floor. One man 
was immediately detailed for guard duty, and the rest placed 
their arms where they could instantly put their hands on 
them and went out doors to inspect their surroundings. 
While wandering up a small canyon to the right, one of them 
called the attention of the others to a grave that he dis- 
covered; it was rudely fenced in and had a gate that was 
padlocked. The loneliness of this last resting place touched 
them deeply. Upon the humble mound were branches of 
withered flowers in various stages of decay, showing that 



AT TRUCKEE. 185 

some one, to whom the departed one was dear, had at different 
times made a pilgrimage to offer sweet flowers on mem- 
ory's altar. After vain conjecture as to the identity of the 
occupant of this isolated grave, they returned to camp. 

The afternoon was now drawing to a close, and they began to 
make preparations for the evening meal. A fireplace was 
built, and George Heizman elected cook. Corporal Burtis 
took a can and went down the road to get some milk. A 
hatchet was part of their allowance, and with it Hayes chopped 
the wood; Keane was on guard. The flight of steps before 
mentioned placed a large supply of water conveniently at 
their disposal. By some men this convenience would not 
meet with the appreciation it deserves; water might be useful 
to float ships or bathe in once in a while, but for drinking 
purposes it failed to meet the requirements. Rather would 
they be camped in the shade cast by some brewery of vast 
proportions, and be lulled to rest with the hum of its machin- 
ery, than rest beneath the overhanging cliffs of giant moun- 
tains, and have their slumbers disturbed, their dreams of 
revelry by night broken in upon, by the varied sounds of 
water — water — water. 

In due course of time Burtis returned with butter and milk. 
He and Hayes then went to their haversacks and each drew 
forth a can of oysters. Now some foolish people will wonder 
how they came to have these oysters. In accounting for their 
possession we will have to take our readers back to the day 
when camp was broken at the Capitol grounds. As related, 
Hayes took part in the raid made on the commissary's stores 
on that occasion. The spoils of this raid were placed in the 
safe-keeping of Quartermaster Clifford. Hayes heard nothing 
further of them. Not a cracker, not even a spoonful of dev- 
iled ham, something he dotes on, no, not even an empty 
oyster can did he get as a reward for his dash and daring. 
This ingratitude on the part of Clifford caused Hayes much 
inward grief and loss of sleep, and when, a few evenings later, 
through the flaps of Number One tent, he caught a glimpse of 
Clifford and a small coterie of his friends banqueting on the 
proceeds of his iniquity, a moan of anguish escaped his lips, 
and in that night of sleepless sorrow he resolved to be re- 
venged. Into the ear of Corporal Burtis he poured his tale of 
woe, and enlisted his sympathies. Next day with unwearying 
eyes they watched the movements of the wary Clifford. 
Towards evening, in an unguarded moment, he left his chest 



186 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

wide open in his tent, in answer to a call from the kitchen at 
the end of the street. Like eagles Hayes and Burtis swooped 
down upon this chest, and, with the aid of Doc. Sieberst, got 
away with a goodly store of dainties. The wailing of " the 
widows of Asbur" was nothing compared to the howl that 
went up from Clifford on discovering his loss. His suspi- 
cions fixed on poor Al Raram, who vainly pleaded his inno- 
cence. When ordered to Truckee, four cans of oysters were 
left; they were divided between Burtis, Freeh, Shula, and 
Hayes for transportation. Two of them helped to garnish the 
meal about to be described. Shula, tired of carrying his 
around, returned it to Hayes while at Truckee, but Freeh re- 
tained his, and while he was away on train guard, Hayes took 
it from his haversack; these two remaining cans of oysters 
were carried all the way back to San Francisco. 

The repast now prepared by Geo. Heizman at this secluded 
spot was the best cooked and the most enjoyable had by the 
boys since they left the city. George certainly missed his vo- 
cation; the stew he made with those two cans of oysters, milk, 
butter, and the rest, would have tickled the palate of the most 
blase gourmand. Then they had some nice chops that in 
some mysterious manner got mixed in with their rations, a 
little fried bacon, bread and butter, and coffee. They feasted 
until they were black in the face. About dusk they received 
a visit from the section boss, who was accompanied by sev- 
eral of his men. In the course of conversation he was ques- 
tioned as to the occupant of the grave on the side of the 
mountain. He informed them that it was a woman who had 
died a couple of winters back, and who, with her husband, had 
lived in the humble cabin in which they were bivouacked. 

At the departure of the section hands the first watch of the 
night was posted. Beneath the careless and reckless demeanor 
of this little band was a stern realization of the responsibil- 
ities of their position, and they were prepared to protect and 
defend the property under their charge to the bitter end. 
With this idea in view, beside the sentinel on duty, the cor- 
poral remained awake and on the alert the greater part of the 
night, and those who slept had their loaded weapons lying by 
their sides. The queen of night now rose with regal splen- 
dor above the mountain tops and sailed slowly and serenely 
through the starry realms of heaven, shedding her beauteous 
and mysterious rays on mountain and canon, stream and 
bridge, and on waving trees, giving life to shadows that ever 



AT TRUCKEE. 187 

and anon startled the sleepy guardsman. The beauty of the 
scene and the mysterious influences of the night throw a 
subtle spell around him; dreamily his thoughts turn with a 
sweet pleasure to the dear ones at home. 

"Who has not felt how sadly sweet, 
The dream of home, the dream of home, 

Steals o'er the heart, too soon to fleet, 
"When far o'er sea or land we roam? 

He recalls them all, one by one. Never before did they 
seem so dear to him. In fond contemplation he lingers on 
eacli little characteristic; the sweet voice and the merry laugh 
rings in his ears; and he wonders if, at this hour, while 
bound in slumber's chain, some loving spirit, winging its 
flight across the land, mounts higher and higher, and looks 
down on him with dreamful eye, as he paces his lonely beat. 

Ha! What's that? He cocks his piece — it has gone. No, 
there it is again, moving around yonder rock; it disappears. 
There it is again, and then the straining look relaxes; a feel- 
ing of relief comes over him. It is but a shadow cast by a 
tree whose boughs are tossing in the wind that sweeps up the 
canon with the river, chilling him to the bone. He shakes 
himself, increases his pace, and wonders what time it is. 
Surely, his two hours are up. The relief at last comes, and he 
gladly surrenders his lonely beat for a comfortable blanket. 

After a hearty breakfast next morning, Hayes shouldered 
his gun and started for a walk. The others staid around 
camp, and tried a little fishing, with no success. In the 
course of a couple of hours Hayes returned and reported inter- 
viewing a number of tramps in the course of his peregrina- 
tions and, further, that he had extended his walk into the 
confines of the state of Nevada. He seemed to be greatly 
put out that the governor of the state and a brass band were 
not there to receive him. 

" This life is made up of disappointments," soothingly said 
Joe Keane. 

While the noon meal was in course of preparation, the 
relief train rolled in upon the sylvan scene. The detail was 
relieved by acting Corporal Pariser and privates Heeth, Pow- 
leson, and Stealy. 

The ride back to Truckee was a long and wearisome one, 
not so much as to distance, but as to time. Endless stopping, 
bumping, and jerking, the result of making up a long train of 
cars containing ice, tortured the weary men beyond endur- 



188 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

ance. Almost worn out, but thankful, they finally arrived at 
Truckee at about dark. 

Every morning the relief train went out with its quota of 
men, dropping them off at the different posts and on the 
return picking up those relieved, while at 8 o'clock every 
morning the camp guard was relieved. This morning Cor- 
poral Burdick, Privates Flanagan, Crowley, Gille, Wise, Over- 
street, and Sullivan were relieved from camp guard. 

The trains (both passenger and freight) now began to go 
through. We supplied guards for every west-bound train. 
These guards ate at Blue Canon and at Colfax, and were 
relieved at the latter place by soldiers of the regular army. 
They returned to Truckee guarding east-bound trains. For 
the first two or three days part of the guard had to ride on 
the tender and engine. This was any thing but pleasant. 
From exposure to the heat of the sun, the flying cinders and 
smoke, the men, on their arrival at Colfax, looked like black- 
amoors. Finding there was no necessity for this, the prac- 
tice was discontinued, the men riding in the cars, and 
dropping off at stations, to prevent any interference with the 
air-brakes or the running of the train. 

The men were now kept constantly on the go; very few, if 
any, could boast of a continuous night's sleep. Those who 
were not away on post duty, or on camp guard, were liable to 
be awakened at any hour of the night, and ordered out as 
train guards. A list of the men who from this time on did 
various guard duties will illustrate the manner in which they 
were shuffled about. Friday, July 20th, privates Heeth, Pow- 
leson, Pariser, and Stealy went to post 24, Pariser acting as 
corporal. On the same day private Perry went to Boca, pri- 
vate Van Sieberstto Prosser Creek, and private Monahan on 
camp guard. Lieutenant Filmer was officer of the day. Ser- 
geant H. B. Taylor, Corporal McCulloch, privates Flanagan, 
Freeh, Gille, McKaig, O'Brien, and Radke went west with trains. 
Saturday, July 21st, Sergeant Sieberst, privates Crowley, Case- 
bolt, Wise, Radke, Snell, and Unger went to Cuba. Privates 
Bannan, Beseman, Baumgartner, and G. Claussenius were on 
camp guard, and Captain Cook was officer of the day. Ser- 
geant A. H. Clifford, who had thrown up his job in the 
kitchen, privates Adams, Bowne, and Gilkyson went out with 
trains. Sunday, July 22d, privates R. E. Wilson and Wil- 
liams went to Prosser; Corporal Burdick, privates McKaig, 
Monahan, and O'Brien to Boca; Corporal McCulloch, pri- 



AT TRUCKEE. 189 

vates Fetz, Gehret, and Sindler, to Post 24; Corporal Burtis, 
privates Hayes, Heeth, and Keane were on camp guard, and 
Sergeant Kelly, Corporal Wilson, privates Pariser and Perry 
went out with trains. Monday, July 23, privates Ban nan, 
Claussenius, Flanagan, and Gille went to Prosser Creek, 
Claussenius acting as corporal. Sergeant H. B. Taylor, pri- 
vates F. Simla, Gilkyson, Freeh, Heizman, R. Radke, and 
our late cook, musician Rupp, whose occupation gone, now 
shouldered a gun, and who, while pacing his beat during the 
witching hours of the night, communed with the moon on the 
smallness of human greatness, went to Cuba. 1st Lieutenant 
E. C. Lundquist was officer of the day, and privates Bowne, 
Beseman, Baumgartner, and Overstreet were on camp guard, 
while privates Casebolt, Crowley, Powleson, Stealy, and Van 
Sieberst took a trip to Colfax. Tuesday, July 24th, the last 
day at Truckee, privates G. Radke, Sullivan, and Ungerman 
went to Prosser Creek, Sullivan acting as corporal, Sergeant 
Clifford, privates Heeth, Keane, Wise, Wear, and Zimmer- 
man went to Cuba. Privates Adams, Monahan, McKaig, and 
Snell were on camp guard, and privates Fetz, Gehret, Hayes, 
and Sindler guarded an early morning train to Colfax. 

In spite of our activity life became very monotonous towards 
the last of our stay in Truckee, so much so that it occasioned 
a very apt scriptural quotation from Corporal Burtis: — " Jesus 
Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever." 

The men now began to shave right and left, particularly 
the older ones, privates Wear and Unger. Their beards 
grew out in patches of gray and black, giving them an old 
and grizzled appearance. A supreme disgust overcame pri- 
vate Hayes when he heard some one call him Red Mike, and 
his razor separated him from his whiskers forever. No man 
would blame Corporal Burdick for shaving, but he clung to 
the very end to an atrocious whisker of vermillion hue that 
adorned his face in patches, the hair bristling forth like 
copper wires. His brother, the major, would look at him with 
wonder and amaze, and say: "Well! if your mother could 
only see you now." (A tidy sum will be realized from that list 
of fines when the men get their money from the state.) 

While around camp the men put in their time throwing 
quoits and reading. Horseshoes were used as quoits, while 
the reading matter consisted of a large number of magazines 
and papers, which were presented to the companies by kindly 
disposed people in the vicinity. 



190 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

About three-quarters of a mile from camp, we located a very 
good place for bathing, which, despite the icy coldness of the 
water, received a number of visitors daily. The orders were 
that no one was to leave camp without permission, but the 
man who asked permission made a fatal mistake. To ask 
permission to do any thing was a great mistake, for one in- 
variably met with a refusal. Now, when a sensible man dis- 
covers that he has made a mistake, he is not likely to repeat 
it. The result was, that a number of luminous minds, when 
they yearned to go into town, or explore the surroundings, or 
breathe the purer air from some hilly height, and view Don- 
ner lake from afar, naturally took French leave. 

An .object of particular interest to us all since our arrival 
at Truckee, and the subject of much conjecture when we saw 
it for the first time, on the night of our arrival, ablaze with 
electric lights, was a small, circular building, on the crest of 
the hill to our left. We soon found it was a museum, con- 
taining a large number of interesting curios, relics of the 
Donner party, and the famous rocking stone. Admission on 
Saturday to the museum being free, a number of us were 
piloted up there by Lieutenant Filmer. The center of inter- 
est, situated in the center of the building, and resting exactly 
in the center of a huge, flat-topped boulder, was the rocking 
stone. This stone weighs in the neighborhood of sixteen 
tons, and is so balanced that with a very slight pressure of 
the hand it can be rocked to and fro. Our attention was 
drawn by the exhibitor to its peculiar shape and significant 
position, and, in order that these peculiarities might be more 
easily discerned, we mounted a ladder that led to a little gal- 
lery that overlooked the rocking stone. From this position 
the stone appeared heart-shaped and pointed north. The ex- 
hibitor told us the boulder upon which the stone and building 
rested was in shape a fac simile of the smaller stone, only 
that it was flat on the top. Before this building was put up, 
and while the stones were exposed to the elements, it was the 
subject of much comment why the snow which falls to a 
great depth in these parts, never collected on the top of 
these stones. This was due to their situation. The wind 
had a constant sweep over them, and carried off the snow- 
before it collected. 

The peculiar position of these rocks is attributed by scien- 
tists to the action of glaciers, or floods. 

After giving some time to an examination of the numer- 



AT TRUCKEE. 191 

ous interesting curios with which this little building was 
stocked, we proceeded up the mountain side, until we came to a 
circular fence, that aroused our curiosity, and, on looking over 
it, we found a froggery in full operation. Myriads of frogs. 
More frogs than the boys, collectively, had seen in all their 
lives. It was a frog Elysium. In the center of the in closure 
was a small pond fed with fresh mountain water that was 
borne to the spot by a mi nature V-shaped flume made of two 
planks. In the center of the pond a little fountain gently 
murmured, soothing, no doubt, the poetic soul of Mr. Frog 
who sat on a convenient plank, blinking at the sun and all 
creation. A stone cast among them created a small panic; 
frogs hopped in all directions. 

Still further up the side of the hill we climbed until, reaching 
its crest, there, far away in the distance, we beheld Donner 
lake. A desire to go to the lake filled the breast of every man 
present. The lieutenaut was also of the same mind, but in a 
moment of weakness, as we were making for the road that led to 
the lake, he dispatched private O'Brien with his compliments 
to Major Burdick, asking permission to go to Donner lake. We 
waited on the road for O'Brien's return. Though William 
has no wings attached to his feet, his shoulders, or his cap,. 
he is very speedy, and soon returned bearing to Lieut. Filmer 
the compliments of Major Burdick, and a message to the 
effect that he did not think it advisable to take the men such 
a great distance from camp, as they might be called upon at 
any time for train guard or other duties. We then reluc- 
tantly retraced our steps along the road towards camp. No 
further compliments were sent to Major Burdick that day, 
though under the guidance of our gallant lieutenant we cut 
across the country and visited the sawmill on the banks of 
the Truckee, and wound up the trip with a swim. 

Shortly after our return to camp, the redoutable Bowne and 
Adams were seen coming from the direction of town. They 
had just arrived from Colfax, as train guards, where they had 
been sent the day previous on a similar mission. A peculiar 
characteristic of these two gentlemen is, that once they don 
the uniform of a soldier their whole nature seems to change^ 
and a more desperate looking, or bloodthirsty pair it would 
be hard to find. On this occasion, when they returned be- 
grimed with soot and dirt, glaring at us through bloodshot 
eyes, with sunburnt, perspiring unshaven faces, their fero- 
cious appearance was enough to strike terror into the heart of 



192 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

any one. Private Adams, when asked to explain the reason 
of this wondrous transformation, answered with the following 
lines from the immortal Shakespeare: 

" In peace there's nothing so becomes a man 
As mild hehavior and humility; 
But when the blast of war blows in our ears, 
Let us be tigers in our fierce deportment." 

The train they took out the day previous consisted of about 
twenty ice cars. The trip was uneventful until they reached 
Blue Canon, where they satisfied the yearnings of the inner 
man, Bowne scaring the female who w r aited on the table half 
to death by asking her for a cup of hot blood. At this place 
five prisoners were placed in their charge by the sergeant of 
the guard located there, with instructions to carry them safely 
through to Colfax. It is needless to remark that the duty, 
having been committed to members of the City Guard, was 
duly performed. Without deviating from the strict rule of 
military discipline, they were considerate, and accommodated 
their prisoners with berths in a refrigator car, bringing them 
into Colfax literally on ice. They were subsequently passed 
through to Sacramento. 

The guard at Blue Canon were very anxious to have these 
individuals, whom they regarded with great suspicion, well 
out of their district, which included miles of snowsheds. 
The great danger feared was incendiary fires; so all charac- 
ters w T ho could not give a satisfactory account of themselves 
were promptly transported to other regions. 

While the train stopped at Alta station, strains of music, 
mingled with happy laughter, were wafted to their ears from a 
school-house near by, where a dance was in progress. They 
longed to trip the light fantastic toe for a few blissful mo- 
ments with the comely country lasses. But " some must work, 
while others play"; so from afar, with envious eyes, they viewed 
the merry throng, seeking doubtful consolation in the thought 
that it was just possible that distance lent enchantment to the 
scene. They arrived at Colfax about 10:30 p. M.,and at 1 
p. m. the following day boarded the train that bore them back 
to Truckee. 

The marvelous way in which such articles as soap, towels, 
and washing laid out to dry disappeared was astonishing. 
George Claussenius late one night was heard bemoaning to 
his bunkmate Adams the loss of a pair of socks, expressing 
it as his opinion, that it was a shame that a man could not 



AT TRUCKEE. 193 

put out a pair of socks to dry without some one taking them. 
(It will no doubt be noticed that we always used the word 
take during that three weeks campaign; the harsh word steal 
was dropped from our vocabulary altogether.) Hayes, hearing 
the sad little tale of woe, whispered in the ear of Corporal Bur- 
tis the question, "Did he have those socks"? a chuckle, and 
"I don't know," was the answer received. 

As trophies of the w r ar, Hupp bore away with him from Sac- 
ramento a nice pair of russet shoes which had found their 
way into his tent, and Corporal Burtis, a navy blue flannel 
shirt. Shortly after his arrival at Truckee the handsome little 
corporal bought a dark blue cotton handkerchief with white 
polka dots for ten cents, and thus added ten dollars' worth of 
improvement to his appearance, by the coquettish manner in 
which he arranged it about his neck. 

Our gallant major also seemed to give more attention to 
his personal appearance than usual, blossoming forth in a 
very becoming light blue and w r hite striped negligee shirt, 
with a very deep collar which he wore turned over on the collar 
of his blouse, producing a charming effect, and giving him a 
most debonair and youthful appearance. So much so in fact, 
that one of the wags of the company dubbed him " Little 
Lord Fauntleroy Burdick." 

The example, set by our handsome Major, stirred up a spirit 
of emulation among the rest of our officers, all of whom have 
more than the average share of good looks. Captain Dr. 
O'Brien, the scientist and bonesetter of the expedition, is tall, 
and of atheletic build, and a handsome man under all con- 
ditions, and so is Adjutant Hosmer, photographer-in-chief; 
but when these two valiant warriors returned from town, after 
a seance with the village barber, with a few cents w 7 orth of 
handkerchief arranged with studied negligence about their 
shapely throats, they were a vision of loveliness. What lent 
their personality an additional charm was their utterly utter 
seeming unconsciousness of their good looks; they appeared 
to be totally oblivious of the unfeigned admiration of us poor 
privates, who felt like tramps in the splendor of their pres- 
ence. 

Our handsome captain, who disdains the petty details of 
the toilet, was most of the time wrapt in meditation, or lost 
in the contemplation of his astral form. Not so our first 
lieutenant (easy), Lundquist; he slicked up perceptibly; the 
hair of his head, from constant brushing, rose in all the glory 



194 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

of the bristling pompadour from off his classic forehead, like 
the feathers of an Indian chief. While the graceful form of 
our second Lieutenant, with sloping waist and curving hips, 
seemed to take on added charms daily. Time or space will 
not permit any further digression or dilation on the personal 
attributes of the officers connected with the Truckee contin- 
gent. Suffice it is to say that the proximity of the young 
and beautiful femeninity, for which this town is noted, caused 
these gallant men to spend much time before the small look- 
ing-glass that hung in the toilet compartment of the car. 

Sunday afternoon, July 22d, another party, under the 
leadership of Lieutenant Lundquist, received permission to 
go and see the rocking stone. The party was composed of 
Sergeants Eamm and Clifford, privates George Claussenius, 
R. Radke, Freeh, Baumgartner, Murphy, Gilkyson, Flana- 
gan, McKaig, and Beseman. On arriving at the tower they 
found it closed, and, being unable to find the proprietor, 
concluded to take a tramp over the hiils. The frog farm 
before mentioned first attracted their attention, and soon 
the curious city boys were deep in the study of the domestic 
life of frogdom. But just as the debate concerning the 
habits of frogs had reached its most interesting phase, the 
stone was thrown that caused an unfortunate remark by Al 
Ramm, that linked hops and beer together, causing the imme- 
diate desertion of King Flanagan, McKaig, and Gilkyson 
to some symposium where hops already brewed could be ob- 
tained. The rest, in line of skirmishers, continued the tramp, 
with eyes wide open and ears laid back, constantly on the 
alert for any thing that w r ould be of interest, the fresh, brac- 
ing air making Lundquist, Ramm, and Clifford feel real young 
again. Suddenly they were startled by a yell from Dick Radke, 
and, on rushing to the rescue, found him in a great state of 
excitement: he had discovered a gold mine, and wanted every 
one to know it. George Claussenius, the mining expert of 
the party, after a cursory examination, declared it to be a 
worked-out claim, much to the disappointment of Dick, who 
thought he had struck a bonanza. 

Hardly had Radke resumed his normal state, when Freeh 
caused another sensation by announcing that he had found 
an ax. He placed it in evidence, and his active brain began 
immediately to cast a halo of romance about it. He asserted 
with much earnestness (and Freeh can be very earnest) that 
it was his belief that the ax was a relic of the Donner party, 



AT TRUOKEE. 195 

who perished in the neighborhood many years ago. Noticing 
how serious he was, they all concluded, after a very grave and 
critical examination, that it was a real curio. He clung to 
the ax lovingly, saying he would take it back to Frisco, and 
have some razors made out of the blade. Becoming enthusi- 
astic over his find, he at once developed into a confirmed 
curio fiend, and was constantly finding other articles which 
he declared were relics of the " days of '49." With right good 
will his comrades aided and abetted him in his search. 
Things that had long since been cast away as worn out or 
useless, and, having fulfilled their humble offices to mankind, 
lay upon the face of mother earth, calmly awaiting the end of 
all things, suddenly leaped into a new and transitory value, 
and soon Freeh was laden with an assorted collection of oyster 
cans, old shoes, bottles, etc. As each new find was made he 
discarded one of the old ones, insisting that the last find was 
always the best. When he reached camp, all that he had left 
was his ax, and the skeleton of an old pack-saddle found on 
the banks of the Truckee. 

Lieutenant Lundquist suggested that they continue their 
tramp till a view of Donner lake could be obtained; so, like a 
bevy of seminary girls out with their chaperone, the lieutenant 
and his men went merrily on their way. They were travel- 
ing through what was once, apparently, the pathless forest, 
for all around them were the charred stumps of trees. The 
strong and relentless hand of man had spread destruction and 
death among the giants of the forest. But even here, where 
the nymph of the wood might well weep for the leafy shades 
that were no more, contrasting with the gruesome spectacle of 
destruction, the eye was gladdened with the sight of new, lusty, 
glorious life. In the intervening spaces young trees were 
putting forth their slender branches, the green foliage rustling 
and waving in the gentle summer breezes. 

George Claussenius remarked that the majority of the trees 
were firs, and that the balsam extracted was worth $20.00 a 
quart. At this Dick Radke pricked up his ears, and looked 
at the trees with renewed interest. Clifford took exception 
to the conclusions of Claussenius as to the identity of the 
trees, and insisted they were spruce. Every once in a while 
they would stop before some young sapling, and argue in a 
most learned manner as to its variety. One listening to them 
would imagine they were members of the State Board of For- 
estry. The others, not wishing to display their ignorance, 



196 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

never ventured an opinion till Lundquist, realizing that these 
gentry were as much at sea as to the identity of the trees as 
the rest were, put up a job on them. He got the others to 
promise they would coincide with him, and then, with all the 
confidence of one able to judge, he proclaimed them apple 
trees. True to their promise they all agreed with the lieuten- 
ant. Clifford and Claussenius wasted much breath in trying 
to show them that they erred in their conclusions. 

Meanwhile Radke had wandered away by himself. As he 
progressed he gave every tree he met the closest scrutiny. 
" Twenty dollars a quart! twenty dollars a quart! if I could 
only run across a fir tree that was spouting balsam, why it 
would be better than a gold mine; my fortune would be made." 
A yell of joy apprised the boys that Radke had surely struck 
a bonanza this time. When they reached his side they found 
him with his hands full of a sticky substance, and, with a look 
of triumph on his face, he invited all hands to help themselves 
to balsam. " Balsam ! " said Clifford, " Balsam! why, what are 
you talking about? that 's pitch." And so it proved to be. 

They resumed their journey, and in due course of time 
reached an eminence, from which they beheld Donner lake 
The scene was a beautiful one, and well repaid them for their 
journey. The lovely body of water lay calm and serene, re- 
flecting the sun's rays like a sheet of silver. Precipitous 
mountains rose on all sides of it; to the left, for miles along 
the sides of the mountains, the eye could trace the snowsheds. 
Considerable time was spent in contemplating the beauties of 
nature, and it was with reluctance that they finally turned 
their faces toward the camp. They descended the hill on the 
side leading down to the Truckee river, and, when they 
reached its banks, discovered Bob Williams making his way 
down the river on the logs that covered its surface to the saw- 
mill about a mile away; this easy and direct way of reaching 
camp appealed to the eye of our easy lieutenant at once, and 
soon they were all hopping from log to log, and in a short time 
reached the mill without accident of any kind, then slowly 
retraced their steps to camp, all agreeing that they had a most 
enjoyable tramp. 

The relieved squads that daily returned from the different 
posts brought with them moving tales of flood and field. 
The squad, composed of Corporal McCulloch, and privates 
A. Fetz, A. Gehret, and F. Sindler, had relieved a similar 
number of Company A's men at Post 24. No sooner had the 



AT TRUCKEE. 197 

train left, than the learned corporal pounced upon the rations 
that were to keep the wolf from the door for the next twenty- 
four hours. A wail of anguish arose from him as the prov- 
ender was exposed to view; no sugar, no milk, no butter, three 
" measly " steaks, a small quantity of beans, a smaller quan- 
tity of rice, about a pound of coffee, a small piece of bacon, 
and two loaves of bread. Ye gods! what had he done? He 
called upon all the great divinities of heaven to bear witness 
to his just and honorable career, a life spent in gathering a 
mass of learning, that, rarified by the fires of his poetic soul, 
was in the future to cast its electrical and beneficent rays 
upon the sons of men. How could they expect him to con- 
tinue on the long and wearisome road to glory, the uncertain 
and treacherous pathways that lead to fame, to efficiently fill 
the exalted position for which he was ordained, if the springs 
of his young life were to be warped and dried up by the lack 
of sufficient nourishment. 

While thus bewailing his sad fate, and comparing their un- 
happy lot with that of the men at the other posts, who were 
living on the fat of the land, they entered the lowly cabin 
that was to afford them shelter, when lo! and behold! there 
before his wondering eyes were sugar, pepper and salt, two 
potatoes, the gods be praised, one carrot, and a piece of bacon. 
Here, indeed, was a miracle; the gods were not unmindful; 
their faithful servant was not to be left to starve in the wilder- 
ness; these edibles were surely placed there by divine hands, 
for had not A's men just left, and were they ever known to 
leave any thing behind them? Overcome by this revelation of 
the justice and goodness of an all-seeing Providence, the 
learned corporal reverently removed his cap, and with up- 
raised eyes, that seemed, from the glad and holy light that 
shone from them, to be contemplating heavenly scenes, 
silently gave thanks to his Creator. 

The men, like others stationed there before them, were en- 
chanted with their surroundings. The corporal, however, 
did not enchant until he had inquired into the cooking abil- 
ities of his command. He, after a careful consideration of 
their qualifications, appointed Al Gehret cook. This mo- 
mentous subject off his mind, he went forth into the sunshine 
and began to rave about the mountains that reared their solid 
bastions to the sky, declaring that a being must be indeed cal- 
lous, who, when cut off from the rest of the world, and alone in 



198 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

nature's mighty solitude, did not feel the omnipotence of the 
Creator. 

In appointing Al Gehret cook, the learned Corporal had 
made no mistake, (how could he) for Al proved himself to 
be very capable; he so ably manipulated the provisions placed 
in his charge that one and all sang his praises. But the look 
of contentment and pleasure that came over the faces of his 
boarders as each delicious morsel disappeared through their 
lips into the cavernous depths below brought more joy to Al 
than all the encomiums which could be heaped upon him. So 
intent was he in watching their joyous emotions that he for- 
got to eat himself, and the others were so absorbed in the 
enjoyment of the fare, that they failed to take notice of his 
forgetfulness. No high salaried chef contemplated with more 
pride the results of his skill than Al the results of his labors. 
The potato soup he concocted made the corporal, whose weak- 
ness is soup, his lifelong friend. 

McCulloch, Fetz, and Sindler now vied with each other to 
perform some special feat that would render them envied by 
the rest. McCulloch, while wandering along the bank of the 
river, with the intention of baiting the wary trout, on spring- 
ing from one rock to another, lost his footing and was pre- 
cipitated head first into the cold stream. Withdrawing 
himself hurriedly out of the water, he hastened back to the 
cabin, where the others were gathered, and, showing them his 
dripping clothes, dared them to do some thing that would 
rival his adventure. The wet clothes were discarded and laid 
out in the sun to dry, while the corporal, picturesquely draped 
in an army blanket, squatted all the afternoon in the sun, like 
a Digger Indian. Both Sindler and Fetz took up the chal- 
lenge. Sindler started out with line and hook, determined to 
catch a string of trout, that would lie for itself, and forever 
make him famous. He fished and fished until the gathering 
twilight warned him it was time to return. He quietly stole 
back into camp, with but three fish to show for his efforts, a 
humbled and heartbroken man. Not so with Fetz, who after 
a long absence returned to camp, proclaimed his name to be 
Fetz, and that he was the only man in the crowd that had 
stood in Nevada. For this he claimed the honor of having 
performed the greatest feat. This wac the subject of a pro- 
longed and undecided argument between himself and McCul- 
loch, which is renewed whenever they meet. The relations 
of the boys had become so harmonious, and their environ- 



AT TRUCKEE. 199 

ment so pleasing to them, that Fetz, the following morning, 
declared that he would be satisfied to stop where they were 
another twenty-four hours; but McCulloch, casting a side glance 
at their depleted larder, said that, under the circumstances, he 
thought he would rather return. Not that he appreciated 
their company less, they were all good fellows, or their beauti- 
ful surroundings, but there were other claims more strong 
that made him yearn once more to return to Truckee, and the 
bosom of the company. So they packed their little belong- 
ings, and awaited the train which was to bear them back to 
camp. 

The squad composed of Corporal Burdick, privates Mona- 
han, McKaig, and O'Brien, relieved the guard at Boca, Sun- 
day afternoon, July 22d, at 3 p. m. Not having had any 
thing to eat since breakfast, and being anxious to try the 
fare of the Boca Hotel, which their comrades had praised so 
enthusiastically, Monahan, McKaig, and O'Brien, not content 
to wait until 6 o'clock, decided to try and get some thing to 
eat, though of course the noonday meal at the hotel had long 
since passed into history. 

Burdick stood guard, saying that he would save his appetite, 
and endeavor to do justice to his dinner at 6 o'clock. By 
dint of tales of starvation that would do credit to Baron 
Munchausen, our three worthies prevailed on the hotel clerk, 
whose face, O'Brien said, seemed very familiar, to give them 
what he could get in the kitchen. A very good lunch was 
improvised, and during the course of its disappearance it 
flashed across the mind of O'Brien that this same clerk so 
strangely met with in a small town high up in the rocky pas- 
ses of the Sierra Nevada's was none other than Jimmy Mad- 
den, an old schoolmate, and resident of the Mission. Mutual 
recognition was in order, and the future well feeding of this 
detail, at least, was assured. Even at midnight a fine meal of 
hot coffee, boiled eggs, tongue sandwiches, and (hold your 
breath) cream puffs! was furnished them by their kindly 
host. In regard to these same cream puffs " Kinky" Mac 
claimed, to use the common parlance, to " have a kick com- 
ing." Monahan and Burdick had gone up to the hotel at 
twelve to get the midnight repast, leaving O'Brien on guard, 
and " Kinky " asleep on the lee side of a clump of sage brush 
with his hat for a pillow. On their return, the can holding 
the solids was quickly opened, and O'Brien, holding the lantern 
above it, saw before his wondering eyes three cream puffs. 



200 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The sight of such luxuries made him gasp and press his hand 
to his palpitating heart. But three cream puffs for four men, 
what could it mean? He glanced quickly at lengthy Monohan 
and the little corporal who has read Gulliver's Travels, and 
saw a guilty look flit across their faces, half shown by the 
feeble light of the lantern which he still held above the pre- 
cious can. He discreetly held his peace, however, and busied 
himself disposing of his share, which, of course, included one 
cream puff. They did the same and then wakened Kinky. 
He was enchanted with his eggs, sandwiches, and coffee. All 
would still have been lovely, but Monohan, intoxicated with 
good fortune, asked Ben how he liked the cream puffs! 

"Cream puffs!" shouted Kinky, "Where's mine?" 

Consternation in the enemy's camp. Explanations were 
useless. He wanted his cream puff and on its nonproduc- 
tion branded all three as land pirates and highwaymen. The 
punishment of the guilty had overtaken them. "Kinky" 
talked, and when he talks "stand from under," for tho' he says 
little and rambles much, he keeps it up incessantly. All that 
night were the hapless men punished for yielding to the 
temptation which had been too great; and in the morning 
promises to reform were eagerly made if "Kinky" would only 
drop the cream-puff subject. 

On leaving the hotel after their impromptu repast our three 
boys saw that, this being Sunday, the veranda was crowded 
with mountaineers of all descriptions. They were passing 
down the steps, when they were accosted by one, who wanted 
to know " Who the fourteen-year-old kid was you had on there 
last night, and waked the town crying for his mamma?" An- 
swering him, not sharply, but decidedly, that "they didn't 
know who was on there last night, but they did know who 
would be on to-night, and would guarantee them," they passed 
on down the steps feeling that such a performance last night 
must be offset by a very decided tone to-day. This w r as a Sun- 
day crowd and liable to be all drunk by night. Later in the 
evening one drunken lumberman informed Corporal Burdick 
that he intended to go up on the bluff above the bridge and 
fire off blank cartridges at the sentry; but no notice was taken 
of him by the corporal, and he was finally persuaded by a 
very sensible friend that " he'd better not try it. This was 
not the same crowd that was on last night." 

Another approached private O'Brien while on guard, and 
wanted to know what four soldiers could do against all the 



AT TRUCKEE. 201 

men in town if they wanted to take the bridge and burn it. 
He was promptly answered that the four soldiers considered 
themselves enough to hold the bridge until relieved, and pro- 
posed to do it, too. All this questioning seemed to indicate, 
at least, a desire to try to take the bridge, and to provide against 
surprise, the guard vacated the empty box-car, which was 
used as a guard-house, and carried their blankets, etc., across 
the bridge and onto a bluff which overhung it and held a 
commanding view of its entire length and all the approaches 
to it. Here they felt well able to hold their ground until relieved 
next day. No disturbance occurred, however, the night pass- 
ing quietly, with the exception of the noise created by Mc- 
Kaig's tirade against criminals in general and cream-puff 
thieves in particular. The night was divided into watches of 
two hours each, one man standing guard on the edge of the 
bluff overhanging the bridge, while his comrades slept in the 
sage brush, rolled in their blankets, within reach of his hand. 

The next morning, Monday, was spent by those off guard 
fishing in the Truckee or in Boca creek, half a dozen fish 
being secured, or in wandering over the ruins of the famous 
Boca Brewery, which had been burned the year previous. On 
account of the purity of the water used, this beer had the rep- 
utation of being the best made. 

The belligerent spirits of the night before had all gone off to 
work, and no more excitement was furnished the squad. 

At about 10 o'clock the relieving train passed through, 
dropping off the squad for the next day. Our squad did not 
have to wait for the return of the train, however, the details 
at Boca and Prosser being ordered to ride in on a freight train 
just arrived at Boca, and now, having taken on some extra ice- 
cars was ready to leave. 

The ride in was uneventful, the two details arriving in 
Truckee at noon, just in time for dinner at the Truckee 
hotel. 

The evenings, at the Truckee camp, were passed around a 
huge fire, singing songs and spinning yarns. One night Doc. 
Sieberst produced a huge roll of paper, and, with a voice con- 
taining as much music as the screech of a jackass, sang a 
parody on the song " Two little girls in blue," entitled: "Few 
little boys in blue." It contained thirty-two verses; but, ere 
he had waded through half of it, his audience had stolen 
away, and, deep in the seclusion of their bunks, with heads 
buried beneath blankets, tried to shut out the sounds of his 



202 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

voice, at last falling into a sleep, visited by frightful dreams 
and distorted visions. 

The Doc. was the originator of our famous Truckee war 
cry, which commends itself for its brevity. 

"Hoopla! Hooplo! Hooplee! 
We were lucky, 
We went to Truckee. 
Not ! what ! A and B ; don't you see? " 

The tide of travel east and west was daily becoming greater 
— huge freight trains slowly rolled in, and rolled away again. 
Their favorite stopping-place was the sidetrack adjoining the 
one on which our cars stood. They were a nuisance by night 
and by day — by night disturbing our slumbers, by the never- 
ending sounds of escaping steam and throbbing machinery; 
and by day a great annoyance to both officers and privates, 
particularly to the officers, who, on the approach of a pas- 
senger train, were compelled to climb through the vulgar 
freight train in order to see, and more especially to be seen, 
by the fair sex traveling in the Pullman cars. 

We weie now out nearly three weeks, and the majority of 
us were longing to get back to 'Frisco; particularly as now all 
danger seemed to be passed, the report that the strike was 
off being verified by the employees of the railroad company 
who had returned to work. The men began to worry about 
the security of their positions in town, and the business and 
professional men connected with the company, feeling that 
their business interests were receiving serious injury by their 
prolonged absence, were impatient to return. 

Time hung heavily on the hands of all, and, as no one had 
yet been to Donner lake, Monday afternoon, of July 23d, Cor- 
poral Burtis and private Hayes decided to take to themselves 
the distinction of being the only members of the company to 
visit that beautiful sheet of water. Forgetting to ask permis- 
sion, they quietly meandered out of camp unobserved, and 
made for the high road that led to the lake. 

This lake, glimpses of which were caught from the many 
bends of the road, the beautiful little stretch of country ap- 
proaching it, now green with luxuriant verdure, in which 
mild-eyed cattle cropped the plentiful fodder, and the hills to 
the right upon which sheep are now feeding, were, one winter 
many years ago, the natural theater of a sickening tragedy, the 
horror of which thrilled all the country at the time. It was here 
that, after many wanderings, a party of emigrants, who had left 



AT TRUCKEE. 203 

their eastern homes early in the spring 01 '46, and, taking a 
new route which led through the Great Basin — lying between 
the Pocky mountains and the Sierra Nevadas — found them- 
selves stalled in the impassable snows of these mountains 
which reared themselves like a white wall on all sides. Out 
of the party of eighty, thirty-six perished. A cross now marks 
the last resting-place of the unfortunate ones. 

Squads of men were constantly going and coming. And 
now that so many trains were getting through at all hours of 
the night and day, the first sergeant was busy making up 
squads to accompany them. The novelty of post duty had 
not yet worn off, the men being so much changed about, 
that hardly one of them went to the same post twice; and, as 
each squad went out, the members of it felt like men going to 
an undiscovered country. The men detailed to Prosser Creek, 
Boca, and Cuba, went there with light hearts, because the 
men who returned from these posts were never tired of prais- 
ing the food with which they were supplied. The men, 
when not on guard, divided the time between eating and 
fishing. Degeneration had already set in — they seemed not 
to have a soul above their stomachs — meal time was hungrily 
looked forward to, and the bill of fare considered the only sub- 
ject worthy of discussion. So when the squad, composed of 
privates George Claussenius, Ban nan, King Flanagan, and 
Gille — Claussenius acting as corporal — arrived at Prosser Creek 
near noontime, on Monday, July 23d, Gille wanted immedi- 
ately to locate the rotisserie that had earned such a reputation 
for itself. This he was not long in doing, and soon returned 
reporting that dinner would be ready for them at 1 o'clock. 
As it was near that time Bannan and Flanagan, with many 
misgivings, watched Claussenius and Gille depart for the eat- 
ing-place. Both of these young men are long and thin, and, 
as is usually the case with young people so constructed, have 
enormous appetites. For over an hour and a half they dallied 
with the good things placed before them, and, after casting a 
last fond, lingering look at the table, reluctantly tore them- 
selves away, and with difficulty waddled back to their com- 
panions. They were received Avith all kinds of reproaches 
b} 7 the hungry and disgruntled Flanagan and Bannan. "Why 
didn't they spend the afternoon?" or "Were they at a sum- 
mer resort?" were some of the sarcastic questions that greeted 
them. The heel and toe pace that Flanagan and Bannan set, 



204 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

as they departed for their dinner, would have surprised the 
veteran pedestrian O'Leary. 

At Cuba Sergeant Taylor, musician Rupp, and private 
Freeh opened the eyes of some of the residents with astonish- 
ment by some wonderfully accurate shooting, at 800, 400, and 
200 yards. An old mountaineer, who was watching them, 
remarked: "Waal, they may say youse fellows ain't much 
good; but, I be gol darned, if I'd like to have any of ye shoot- 
ing at me." 

While at this place, Rupp, our ex-cook, assisted the cook of 
the eating-place to get up their meal. One of the principal 
features of the menu was pie. If there is one thing they can 
do better than another in the country, it is to make pie, and 
this place was no exception. It was looked forward to as a fit- 
ting climax, a delicious top-off to the meals that will ever be 
borne in mind with pleasant remembrance. 

This guard found Frank Shula a very heavy sleeper — that 
beautiful and enlivening German song, entitled: "Oh! the 
little Augustine!" sung and danced by " the entire strength 
of the company," with all the force of their lungs and power 
of their legs and feet, hardly aroused him. The only thing 
that will awaken Frank is the sound of his own snore. This 
sounds so blood-curdling at times that it even startles him- 
self, and with a gasp and grunt he sits bolt upright in his 
blankets, and stares around, panting with affright. 

Late Monday afternoon the rumor reached us that we were 
to be relieved, and that part of the regiment had been sent 
home already. This was, indeed, joyful news, uncertain as it 
was. 

At 3 o'clock Tuesday morning July 24th, a squad consisting 
of privates Fetz, Gehret, and Hayes were ordered out, and 
together with a similar squad from Company A, formed the 
guard of a passenger train, that finally pulled out of Truckee 
between 5 and 6 a. m. While stopping at one of the stations, 
in the snowsheds, a train pulled in from the opposite direc- 
tion laden with militia. The men soon found out that they 
were companies from Grass Valley, and that they had been 
ordered to relieve the Companies A and B stationed at 
Truckee. The country boys were as fresh as new mown hay, 
their uniforms were spotless, and even at that early hour in 
the morning, think of it, had on immaculate white gloves. 
It was with light hearts that our boys continued their journey. 
A sumptuous breakfast was served at Blue Canon. Colfax 



AT TRUCK EE. 205 

was reached about 10 A. m. They found Casebolt, Crowley, 
Powleson, and Stealy there. They also were birds of passage, 
and were taking things very easy, as the new arrivals pro- 
ceeded likewise to do. 

It was rumored that morning in Colfax, that the night 
previous an armed body of strikers had captured the gatling 
guns from the regulars at Truckee. This made the boys 
smile, when they remembered that one of the last scenes their 
eyes rested on that morning before leaving Truckee was the 
peaceful camp of the regulars, the two gatling guns safely 
anchored on a flatcar, with the sleeping forms of soldiers on 
each side of them, and the alert sentinel pacing his beat by 
the side of the cars. So much for the rumors of war. 

Captain O'Connor was the officer in command at Colfax. 
He is quite a martinet, and as exclusive as an " Indian king." 
The captain is quite an elderly man, and for hours he would 
sit on the veranda of the hotel with chair tilted back, and feet 
elevated above his head, his chin resting on his chest and his 
clasped hands lying in his lap. In this position, he seemed 
to be thinking mighty thoughts, or gazing down the vale of 
untold years, contemplating his glorious military achieve- 
ments. His first sergeant, a tall, red-haired, quick, intelligent 
fellow and thorough soldier, was his charge d'affaires, and the 
only man who dared approach him. Our friend Stealy had 
the temerity the night previous to ask him for permission to 
attend a dance or fandango that was to take place in the town 
that night. The frowns that gathered o'er his wrinkled vis- 
age portended dreadful things for the then trembling Stealy, 
but he was ordered back to where he belonged, and told to 
kick up his heels there if he must. 

It was here that poor Al Gehret lost his heart forever and 
a day. She was not fair to look upon, this copper-colored 
mountain maid, who won him at first sight, neither would 
you care to press her cheek. Her once lissome form had long 
since developed and filled out until the extent of her broad- 
ness was equivalent to her height. Those ebon locks were 
strangers to both comb and curling tongs. Hands had she 
like feet, and feet like flatirons. We are not prepared to say 
but that she might be able to make up in affection what she 
lacked in appearance. Some men are won by a pair of witch- 
ing eyes. A wave of golden hair has often captured the 
hearts of others. Some succumb to a shapely form, some go 
in raptures over the classic curve of some fair girl's neck. A 



206 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

refined intellectuality often appeals to others. But Al loved 
her for her jirm alone, her brawny arm, part of which was 
exposed to view. 

During the afternoon Casebolt, Crowley, Powleson, and 
Stealyleft on different trains for Truckee. 

The news of the arrival in Truckee of the Grass Valley con- 
tingent was hailed with joy by the members of both com- 
panies, and the delights of "pitching horseshoes" were given 
over for the pleasure of discussing the chances of an early re- 
turn home. The arrival of the two companies made no dif- 
ference in the regular routine of our camp duties, and the 
relieving squads were taken out to the different posts as usual. 
Our high hopes were blasted later on that morning by the re- 
port, that Colonel Gunther was unable to issue any orders 
with regard to the new companies, as he had not received any 
concerning them himself. The boys, however, put their little 
belongings together, and in various w r ays made ready for an 
early dejmrture. With sleeves tucked up to the elbows 
Corporal Burtis presided over the washtub, and after a few 
hours hard work spread his own clean clothes and those of 
his absent comrade Hayes out to dry, and then with loaded 
gun stood watch over them. 

Early in the afternoon orders w r ere received relieving A and 
B, with instructions to be prepared to leave town at 7 p. m. 
Now the men began to hustle in real earnest; knapsacks were 
packed and blankets strapped to them; all hands were ordered 
out to scour pots innumerable. Doc. Sieberst secured a corner 
on the water-carrying job, and then would only work when 
his life was threatened. Corporal McCulloch, who was deeply 
interested in a yellow-covered book entitled " All for Her," 
treated the request of his comrades to join them in the wild 
hilarious occupation of scouring pots and pans, with fine 
scorn. Was he not a noncommissioned officer? How could 
they expect him to degrade the standard of his rank by 
mingling with rude uncouth privates? and as for scouring 
pots and pans, Ugh ! every fiber of his assthetic nature re- 
volted at the idea. The boys- in despair appealed to the 
captain. The wily McCulloch soon had him entangled in the 
meshes of an argument, the subtleties of which being too deep 
for the captain, he peremptorily put an end to it by order- 
ing the corporal to join his comrades mid the pots and pans. 
This he did under protest, but showed by the dexterity with 



AT TRUCKEE. 207 

which he brought forth the shining qualities of tin and cop- 
per, through a mass of black, much familiarity with that branch 
of kitchen work. 

Later on Adjutant Hosmer, Lieutenant Filmer, Doc. Sieberst, 
Gilkyson, and O'Brien went for their last swim in the cool 
waters of the Truckee. Jack Wilson, Pariser, and Gille's boon 
companion, Wilson, left camp ostensibly for the same purpose, 
but slipped off to a dancehall from which they returned just 
in time to catch the train. 

About 6 o'clock the men were ordered to remove their be- 
longings from the cars, guns were stacked, and the knapsacks 
and blankets piled around them. Great was the dissatisfac- 
tion when it was found out that instead of going back in our 
tourist cars, to which we had become attached, and in which 
we had managed to make ourselves very comfortable, we were 
to return in ordinary day coaches. In consideration of the 
faithful way in which we had guarded the property of the rail- 
road company, the least they might have done to show some 
degree of appreciation was to make our home-going as 
agreeable as possible; instead we were piled into ordinary 
coaches, the seats of which, with malicious intent, were locked, 
so that it was impossible to even derive the small comfort ob- 
tained by reversing them. But it will require the destruction 
of some millions of property before the upholders of law and 
order and protectors of life and property receive the recogni- 
tion due them. 

Lieutenant Lundquist, with a detail from the new arrivals, 
was sent out to relieve our boys at the various posts, and 
bring them back. His appearance at that time of day caused 
much surprise, and the object of his visit much satisfaction. 
The detail under Sergeant Clifford stationed at Cuba had settled 
down to the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of country life; the 
Sergeant had just started off in quest of a fishing-pole when 
the relief train arrived. He was hastily recalled, and the new 
detail turned over to him for instructions. Clifford found 
them "as green as they make 'em." They were all big, strap- 
ping country boys, clad in brand new uniforms, and were a 
marked contrast to the smaller men from the city, whose ser- 
vice in the field had given them and their uniforms — to use 
a most expressive slang term — a " dead hard " appearance. 
The new sergeant of the guard posted three of his men at 
once, but on Clifford's representation that only one was neces- 



208 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

sary during the daytime, withdrew two of them. As Clif- 
ford never lost an occasion to indulge in his little joke, he 
made the situation appear very serious, and showed the place 
to be a very dangerous locality. He told them that a band of 
desperate strikers were expected about 6 o'clock. On hear- 
ing this one of the new guards turned very pale, grabbed a 
fishing-pole ; and, saying that he would try a little fishing, 
made tracks for the river. The sentry, slowly pacing his beat, 
was told to increase his gait, to prevent his being shot by 
strikers hiding in the brush. The poor fellow almost ran. 

The returning relief train now rolled in, the boys climbed 
on board, and, as they moved away, waved a last adieu to the 
new guard, leaving them in a very unenviable frame of mind. 

The train arrived in Truckee in time to give the boys a 
chance to hastily eat a half cold dinner, and join their com- 
rades on the train that at 7 o'clock, started westward, amid much 
heartfelt rejoicing among the members of Company B. While 
on the way the different members of the company met with 
on trains bound for Truckee were taken off. All were now 
accounted for but Fetz, the lovelorn Gehret, and Hayes. As 
night had settled down upon them, and being fearful that they 
would pass the missing ones in the darkness, the long snow- 
sheds echoed with the cries of " Michael Hayes come into 
court!" Each train and station passed was greeted with the 
same yell for the absent Hayes and his companions. The 
train finally pulled into Colfax, and the missing ones were 
found peacefully sleeping on the floor of the baggage-room. 
After getting "Michael Hayes into court," together with Fetz 
and Gehret, our journey homeward was continued, amid con- 
tinued rejoicing. 

As the night advanced some sang songs, while tne majority, 
tired and worn out with the hardships and trials of three weeks' 
campaigning, had fallen into merciful sleep, a happy sleep, 
pervaded with the pleasant sensation of being borne swiftly 
home. 

There they lay, in all positions, on the floor, across seats, 
doubled up, some with their heads thrown back and mouths 
open, snoring lustily, some with their heads hung forward — 
not one in a comfortable position. But comfort by this time 
had become of secondary importance to the members of the 
City Guard. The habit of sleeping any and every where had 
inured them to all discomforts. And now the irrepressible 



AT TRUCKEE. 209 

Doc. Sieberst again broke out. Small pieces of paper were 
put into the hands or mouths of the insensible sleepers; a 
match was then applied to the paper. The awakening of the 
unfortunate victim was watched with fiendish glee by the on- 
lookers. Some of the victims would toss the burning paper 
from them and fall back, dead to the world again; others 
would start up in a dazed sort of way, claw the air a bit, a 
piece of paper stuck in the victim's open mouth making him 
look laughably ridiculous, and stare around at their torment- 
ors with comical gravity. This is what sleep amounted to that 
night. To feel that before another twenty-four hours we could 
rest in a nice, warm, soft bed, was a comfort and a joy. Through 
the long night's journey sentinels were posted on the platforms, 
allowing no one to go in or out. 

About 7:30 in the morning we reached the Sacramento 
depot. Here a great disappointment awaited us. Instead of 
going through to the city as we expected, the cars containing 
the two companies were sidetracked, we were ordered out, 
and amid some of the most fearful, though low-toned, "kicking," 
shouldered our knapsacks and blankets, and were inarched back 
along the tracks to the camp of our regiment. As we ap- 
proached the camp we made the echoes ring with our Truckee 
battle cry: "Hoop-la! Hoop-lo! Hoop-lee! We were lucky, we 
went to Truckee! Not! What! A and B; don't you see?" — 
and were soon answering hundreds of questions all at once. 
We took possession of our tentless street and there piled our 
blankets and equipments. The weary ones spread their blan- 
kets and were soon asleep. The dreadful rumor then spread 
that we should not have left the train, and had not some mis- 
take been made we would now be whirling on our way to the 
city. The question then arose, Who dared make such a mis- 
take? The subject was quickly canvassed, and soon upon the 
luckless head of P. J. Conly, acting battalion sergeant-major, 
was poured the wrath of the whole company. 

While in our tentless street, awaiting orders, the Irish crowd, 
headed by Flanagan, became involved in a little fracas with 
another crowd, composed of Jack Wilson, Gille, Wilson, and a 
few others. The neutral bystanders, in the heat of the battle, 
managed, unobserved, to occasionally get in an upper cut, and 
some one threw a brick. Through all the best of humor pre- 
vailed. About ten men were struggling for the possession of 
a barrel stave, with which Jack Wilson had been doing some 



210 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

great execution, when the appearance of Colonel Sullivan put 
an end to the enjoyable proceedings. The Colonel shook 
hands with the boys, and expressed himself as being glad to 
see them all back safe. From beneath the flap of an adjoining 
tent appeared the head of Brien, who had arrived in Sacra- 
mento while we were at Truckee. Tooker now put in his ap- 
pearance, a sadder but wiser man, but with the aversion to 
work as strong within him as ever. Later on we were joined 
by Sergeant Sturdivant; he was compelled to leave us the Mon- 
day previous to attend to some important business in the city, 
and had just returned. 

Lieutenant Filmer obtained permission to take the men 
down town to breakfast, and the majority went. On our re- 
turn we were greeted with the good news that the regiment 
would leave for home that day at 3 p. m. We got our equip- 
ments and blankets together, and were ready to leave at a 
moment's notice. Volunteers were called for to take down 
the officers' tents, and the hardy and experienced men of 
Company B became at once very scarce. We were the lions 
of the hour, and swaggered around like heroes, giving exag- 
gerated accounts of our wonderful adventures to a crowd of 
open-mouthed listeners. 

The week spent at Truckee had enabled our boys to over- 
come the prostrating effects of their stay in Sacramento, and 
was of incalculable benefit to them physically. There were a 
few, however, on whom the malaria contracted in Sacramento 
had taken such a firm hold that it was not to be so easily 
shaken off, and who only reached home to take to a bed of 
sickness. Notably Al Gehret; nature supported him until he 
reached home and received the welcoming embraces of friends 
and relations; he then succumbed, and for two months was 
confined to bed, his life at times being despaired of. George 
Claussenius and Frank Monahan were both laid up with se- 
vere sick spells. 

At noon we had a very sensible and appetizing lunch, ham 
sandwiches and beer. Clifford, as usual, with an eye to the 
future, managed to get away with half a ham, and a few other 
sundries vvhich were duly appreciated during our long ride 
to the city. Thus did Clifford to the very end remain faith- 
ful to his charge, and in a blaze of glory bring his official 
career to a close. 

Why we refer to the lunch of that day as a sensible one is 



AT TRUCKEE. 211 

because we were in the habit, when doing our own cooking, 
of preparing a hot lunch; this entails a lot of work, without 
satisfactory results. Cooking three meals a day is unneces- 
sary. Men are satisfied with a light repast at the noon hour, 
when they have a good breakfast and supper. A lunch of 
sandwiches and beer (when you can get it), or coffee, answers 
every purpose, and is thoroughly enjoyed. During hot weather 
the man who abstains from cold drinks at meal time, and sat- 
isfies his thirst with warm tea or coffee, will find he is better 
able to stand the heat. Lengthy Monahan presided over the 
liquid refreshments on this occasion, and his administration 
was far from being satisfactory; it lacked the impartiality 
that characterized the regime of Jimmy Wear and Van Sie- 
berst. William Flanagan sat at the right hand of Monahan, 
and his little tin cup was always kept full, with the result that 
William soon began to boast of his royal lineage, and to cast 
reflections on the " stuck-up, piano parlor Irish " at the same 
time looking very hard at their champion, Phil Ban nan. On 
occasions of this kind the captain always had a big advantage 
over us, for he drank from a tin cup, which had the holding 
capacity of a dipper. This cup he became the proud possessor 
of in the early part of the campaign, and he clung to it to 
the last. It is believed by the members of the company that 
he bought it himself; others claim he had it made to order. 

At last we received the order, "B Company fall in." We 
were marched to the cars, and after considerable confusion, in 
which we were changed from one car to another while the 
train was in motion, thereby endangering life and limb, fin- 
nally got settled, in an uncomfortable cushionless day coach. 
At the Sacramento depot the train was boarded by the Third 
Regiment, and amid howls and yells of joy the train pulled out 
for 'Frisco. It is with pleasure we can say that on this occasion 
the members of the company comported themselves with the 
dignity of tried soldiers, and preserved a silent passiveness 
that was a marked contrast to the demoniac yells that pro- 
ceeded from the other companies. Passing over the bridge 
which was the scene of the wreck two weeks previous, we 
could not help but feel genuine regret for the brave fellows 
that met death beneath the cars, that still lay tossed about 
below the bridge. Such, indeed, might have been the fate of 
some of us, had events taken a different course. While the 
train was swiftly flying towards the city, Clifford doled out 



212 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

sandwiches for the last time; and a box of cakes and some 
bottles of wine that Fetz and Gehret found waiting for them 
at Sacramento were distributed among the boys with their 
compliments. At last the shores of the bay were reached, and 
across its shining waters we discerned the mansion-crowned 
hills of dear old 'Frisco. Long before it was necessary, the 
boys began to get their belongings together, and when we 
arrived at the end of the mole, every man was ready to step 
off the cars. On the other side of the bay we were received 
by a band, the Boys' High School Cadets, and the members 
of our regiment who had returned home before us. Under 
their escort we marched up Market street. The appearance 
of these men formed such a contrast to our own, with their 
white gloves, white collars, jaunty caps, and clean-shaven 
faces, that we began to wonder if we ever looked like them, 
or would we ever look like them again. These, indeed, must 
be the tin soldiers we had heard people speak of. And yet 
not one of us would change places with any of them, though 
we were unshaven, begrimed with dust and dirt from our 
leggings to the crowns of our much-dented campaign hats, and 
laden with guns, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and blan- 
kets; we were proud of every grease spot, every stain, our 
bursted shoes, our worn leggings, our torn and dirty blouses, 
our campaign hats. Even our little tin cups had a new value 
for us. Around all these, dirty and worn, were clustered 
the memories and associations of our three weeks' cam- 
paign. By the readiness with which we donned the uni- 
forms that proclaimed us soldiers beneath the stars and 
stripes, and upholders of free institutions, did we prove 
ourselves not unworthy of the land we live in. And years 
hence, when the future members of this company are 
gathered around the festive board, the memory of the 
deeds of the City Guard during the Sacramento campaign 
will awake and fire the eloquence of the orator, and in- 
spire the muse of the poet. Along San Francisco's highways 
we marched to martial strains, the endless amount and variety 
of whiskers among the men affording much amusement to, and 
calling forth innumerable comments from, the small boy. 

At length we reached the armory, where we were greeted 
by an immense crowd. After a short speech by Col. Sullivan, 
wherein he dwelt on the efficient services rendered by the 
First Regiment, we were dismissed, and were immediately 



AT TRUCKEE. 213 

surrounded by friends and relatives congratulating us on our 
safe return home. And thus ended the great Sacramento 
Campaign. 

SONG OF THE SOLDIERS. 

Comrades known in marches many, 
Comrades tried in dangers many, 
Comrades bound by memories many, 

Brothers ever let us be. 
Wounds or sickness may divide us, 
Marching orders may divide us, 
But whatever fate betide us, 

Brothers of the heart are we. 

Comrades known by faith the clearest, 
Tried when death was near and nearest, 
Bound we are by ties the dearest, 

Brothers evermore to be ; 
And if spared and growing older, 
Shoulder still in line with shoulder, 
And with hearts no thrill the colder, 

Brothers ever we shall be. 

By communion of the banner, 
Crimson, white, and starry banner, 
By baptism of our banner 

Children of one church are we. 
Creed nor faction can divide us, 
Race nor language can divide us, 
Still whatever fate betide us, 

Children of that flag we'll be ! 

Chas. G. H alpine. 



A HISTORY 



"CITY GUARD" 



"B" Company, First Regiment Infantry 
Second brigade, n. G. C. 



IN A CONCISE FORM 



Embodying the Principal Features from its Original Organization 
to the Railroad Strike of 1894 



CAPTAIN IRVING B. COOK 

Commanding Company 



'SALUS PATRIAE ME EXCITAT." 



PREFACE. 



In the absence of any previously compiled history of the 
" City Guard " I am beholden to a host of ex-members, and 
to many other gentlemen as well, for data and scraps of his- 
tory which helped materially in this work. To them I wish 
to express my most sincere thanks for all kindnesses ren- 
dered. I wish also to express my appreciation for favors 
received from public libraries, especially the Mercantile, for 
the free use of their valuable collections of papers and books 
for reference, many having been examined and consulted by 
me. 

Irving B. Cook, 
Capt. " City Guard," B Co., 1st Infantry, N. G, C. 

Armory, 1327 Market St., San Francisco, Cal. 



CHAPTER I. 



SAN FRANCISCO CITY GUAKD.' 



' Build me straight, 0, worthy master! 
Staunch and strong — a goodly vessel. 
That shall laugh at all disaster* 

And with wave and whirlwind wrestle 



■CPPEARTXG upon the charter-roll of the First Cali- 
|E fornia Guard, under date of organization, namely, 
July 27, 1849, will be found the name of J. Russel 
Gerry, M. D., company surgeon. Upon looking fur- 
ther along the roll we find the names of John A. 
Clark and George F. Watson, first and second lieuten- 
ants, respectively, of the company, both having joined 
on May 21, 1852. Second Sergt. R. M. Stephenson and 
Corporal John W. Conner also joined at the same time with 
the lieutenants. Third Sergt. E. W. Crowell. together with 
R. S. La Motte, H. D. La Motte, and Charles S. Simpson, date 
from July 13, 1852; and Thomas B. Parker from October 5th 
same year. Fourth Sergt. H. F. Wadsworth and Joseph Hen- 
riques joined in 1852, but the exact dates cannot be given at 
this writing. H. D. La Motte and E. G. Hilton, two of the 
three now living, who were among the organizers of the " City 
Guard," furnish evidence between them to show that the fol- 
lowing named gentlemen were also among those who belonged 
to the California Guard just prior to March 31, 1854— the 
great day — but are unable to give the dates of their first join- 
ing same: Asa L. Loring, Charles Le Gay, John Ames, John 
McQuade, E. G. Hilton (who speaks for himself), John C. 
Briggs. P. R. Moore, Samuel C. Loring, E. R Dim mock, and 
J. H. Pierce. 



220 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The records of the California Guard are very incomplete for 
the early years, particularly so for 1853, that year only show- 
ing two enlistments. This is the reason why the writer is 
unable to furnish the dates above left vacant. 

The First California Guard was originally organized as a 
train of artillery, and exercised in the standing gun drill, be- 
sides drilling with muskets. Early in 1854, however, they 
changed into a horse battery, receiving from the state two 
six-pound brass guns with carriages and all appliances. 

This change did not meet with favor from all the members 
of the battery, some particularly desiring to retain the old 
form of organization, as they did not care for the mounted 
work; nor did they relish the manner in which their captain, 
Woodworth, conducted the drills and affairs of the battery, 
he being absent therefrom, and very inattentive to the duties 
required of a company commander. 

These members, therefore, turned their attention to the ac- 
complishment of a new organization in accordance with their 
desires, the proceedings being entirely harmonious between 
all parties concerned. 

With this object in view, they held a preliminary meeting 
pursuant to the following notice: 

"You are requested to attend a meeting of the second com- 
panv California Guard at the armory this evening, at 7 o'clock. 
Dated Monday, March 13, 1854." 

At this meeting, or at one held perhaps a few days later, the 
name of the new organization must have been agreed upon, 
for in the columns of the Daily Alta California under date of 
March 21, 1854, the following notice and order appears: 

"By virtue of the authority in me vested, I hereby appoint 
R. S. La Motte to superintend the election for officers of the 
'San Francisco City Guard' as required by law. Dated, San 
Francisco, March 21, 1854. 

"J. H. Creigh, County Judge. 

" In accordance with the above, an election for officers of 
the ' San Francisco City Guard' will be held at Armory Hall, 
on Friday evening, March 31, 1854, at 7:30 o'clock. 

" R. S. La Motte." 

Pursuant to the above order, the twenty-two gentlemen 
previously mentioned in this chapter met, and duly accom- 
plished the organization of the "San Francisco City Guard," 



SAN FRANCISCO CITY GUARD. 221 

electing the following officers and noncommissioned officers for 
the term of one year: Captain, John A. Clark; 1st Lieutenant, 
George F. Watson; 2nd Lieutenant, R. McLean Stephenson; 
Jr. 2nd Lieutenant, R. S. La Motte; Orderly Sergeant, Thomas 
B. Parker; and Sergeants, in order of rank, E. W. Crowell, 
James C. Briggs, who was also treasurer, John W. Conner; 
Q. M. Sergeant, H. Frank Wadsworth; the corporals, in order 
of rank, were, Asa L. Loring, P. R. Moore, Samuel C. Loring, 
and Charles Le Gay; Surgeon, J. Russel Gerry, M. D.; Secre- 
tary, John Ames. 

Of these charter members there are now living, H. D. La 
Motte, Lake county, California; E. G. Hilton, New York; 
Charles Le Gay, Paris, France. Doubtful, H. Frank Wads- 
worth and R. McLean Stephenson. 

By-laws for this new company were adopted, and the drill 
night set for Frida} 7 of each week. 

Captain Clark spent a great deal of time and money in per- 
fecting the organization of his command. His donations 
were used principally in purchasing the first uniform, which 
consisted of a close-fitting jacket of a very light fawn color, 
all trimmings and pipings being of red; the men wore any 
dark colored trousers. The uniform cap was a high affair of 
blue material, trimmed with red. This is the only uniform 
worn by the company for perhaps six or seven months, when a 
full dress was adopted. 

The company, being organized as artillery, drilled as such 
with a large wooden bronzed model to represent a heavy gun. 
The drill, however, was mostly as infantry, and all parades 
were made with the musket. 

Upon a proper requisition from the captain upon the state 
authorities, the quartermaster and adjutant general, the corps 
received the following arms and accoutrements: 60 percussion 
muskets; 60 ammunition and cap boxes, belts, and plates; 60 
waist belts and plates; 60 musket appendages; 60 artillery 
sabers, belts, and plates; the company furnishing its own 
uniforms. 

The organization thus becoming complete, the " San Fran- 
cisco City Guard " sailed bravely forth to buffet and battle 
with the vast unknown. 

"Like a stately ship, 
With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, 
Sails rilled and streamers waving." 



222 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The original company commander is described as being 
neither light nor very dark complexioned, but with black hair, 
5 feet 6 inches in height, weighing in the neighborhood of 
115 to 120 pounds — a small man. He was full of life, how- 
ever, quick-witted, and a noble-hearted fellow. His father, 
Aran Clark, was at one time mayor of New York city. Com- 
ing to California, Capt. Clark was for a long time deputy 
county recorder of San Francisco. He died on November 22, 
1877, at the age of 53 years, while in the employ of the treas- 
urer's department at Washington. 

Armory Hall, the first home of the " San Francisco City 
Guard," was situated on the northeast corner of Sacramento 
and Montgomery streets, in Sam Brannan's new building, 
having a frontage of 60 feet on both thoroughfares. Four 
other companies also occupied this building, each having sep- 
arate company rooms in the third story, with the use of the 
drill hall on the fourth for its allotted evening of the week. 

Nothing that was particularly startling occurred during the 
balance of this, to the " City Guard," the most eventful year 
of 1854, nor during the next for that matter, to mar the calm 
serenity of ordinary military life. Drills, parades, outings, 
banquets, and social events vied with each other to fill the 
interim; all of which served to i'lterest, not only the mem- 
bers themselves, but others as well, in the welfare of this or- 
ganization. Many prominent men joined the ranks of the 
"City Guard," and the high standing thus early attained 
served to place the company on a firm and permanent basis, 
assuring to it a long, prosperous, and most honorable existence. 

To chronicle all the different incidents and happenings of 
this early period, and those too of more recent dates, would 
be out of the question at this present writing; prominent 
among them, however, we find the following interesting items: 

It was on the afternoon of the 3d of July, 1854, that the 
" San Francisco City Guard" journeyed by water to the town 
of Martinez for its initial excursion and outing, and, after cel- 
ebrating the Fourth by a parade, drill, and prize shoot, the 
corps returned homeward, being received and escorted to the 
armory by the California Guard. 

The 17th day of August following, found the company on 
the Oakland side of the bay for the regular target practice 
and medal shoot. It was upon this occasion that the com- 
pany commander presented the now famous " Clark Medal " 
to the corps, the condit.ons being that it remain a permanent 



SAN FRANCISCO CITY GUARD. 



223 



annual prize in the company. This medal is still the valued 
property of the " City Guard," and is placed in competition 
as provided for in the original deed of gift. On one side of 
the large quartz medal is inscribed: "'City Guard,' organized 
March 31, 1854," and on the reverse side we have "Company 
medal, presented by Capt. John A. Clark, August, 1854." 

It may be of general interest to the active guardsman of 
the present day to learn that on April 25, 1855, the legis- 
lature of California duly enrolled upon the statute books the 
law exempting active militiamen from jury duty. 

Armory Hall remained the home of the " City Guard " until 
the 1st of June, 1855, when, during the following fifteen or 
sixteen months, the company occupied three different armo- 
ries, namely: No. 95 Battery street, corner of Clay; northeast 
corner of Kearny and Clay, this being the place where the re- 
organization took place as the " I. C.G."; thence to an armory, 
for a very short time, on the northeast corner of Halleck and 
Sansome streets, over the American Theatre. 




CHAPTER II. 



1 INDEPENDENT CITY GUARD.' 



I HE political corruptions, ballot-box stuffing, and the 
great number of homicides committed with impu- 
nity, were the causes leading up to the Vigilance 
Committee of 1856. These criminals depended upon 
their fellows, some of the worst then being themselves 
officials, to shield them from prosecution and to again 
set them free. The opinion steadily gained ground with 
the better element of society that it would be utterly impossi- 
ble to correct these evils by due process of law; still none 
would make a move toward taking matters into their own 
hands, and the worse element thus held full sway. 

It was while popular feeling was thus strained to a high 
tension that the Evening Bulletin made its appearance, with 
James King, of William, as editor. King devoted his energies 
in denouncing the crimes and all criminals who had given 
most offense to the community. 

The crisis finally came when this fearless editor, on May 
14, 1856, published in his journal the fact that James P. 
Casey, who had but lately stuffed the ballot-box with his own 
name while inspector of election, and had declared himself 
elected supervisor of the Twelfth Ward, was a graduate of the 
New York state prison at Sing Sing, which statement was 
true. Casey thereupon, within two hours, mortally wounded 
King. The news of this fresh homicide spread like wildfire, 
and Casey's friends hurried him to jail, deeming it the safest 
place. 

An immense congregation of excited citizens assembled on 
the Plaza, closing upon and threatening to storm the jail in 
order to execute dire vengeance upon the murderer. This 
crowd grew to wonderful proportions. 



INDEPENDENT CITY GUARD. 225 

In the meantime the authorities were not idle; the military 
were called upon to preserve order, and, in obedience to its 
sworn duty, the "City Guard," within an hour thereafter, left 
the armory (corner Kearny and Clay) for the scene of trouble. 
Although the company had but a short distance to go, it was 
a march to be long remembered, for upon appearing on the 
street, the members met with a warm reception. The 
crowd jeered, they stormed, they threatened, they threw all 
sorts of missiles (no one was seriously injured however), did 
every thing possible to impede their progress toward the jail, 
but with no avail. These soldiers, putting all their personal 
feelings aside, were doing but their duty, and they did that 
duty well. 

Lieutenant Watson, who was in command during the ab- 
sence of Captain Clark in Ihe East, had the muskets loaded 
with ball, and it became necessary, not only to use the bay- 
onet occasionally, but two or three times was the command 
"aim" given, and the men silently and with determination 
waited for the word " fire," so were their tempers worked 
upon by this time: it was a hot crowd. Fortunately for some 
one, however, the mob gave way under this pressure, and the 
" Guard " finally entered the jail, taking position best adapted 
for its proper protection. Here the company remained all 
night and until 10:30 o'clock the next day, when the excite- 
ment becoming somewhat abated, they returned to the armory 
and were dismissed, with orders to report again immediately 
upon hearing the alarm sounded. 

This summons never came. But, on the other hand, not- 
withstanding the prompt response and constant readiness of 
the boys to perform their duty, Lieutenant Colonel West and 
Sheriff D. Scannell mistrusted them, and quietly removed the 
arms and accoutrements from the armory that day, thus leav- 
ing the organization without the means of effective service. 
This high-handed proceeding upon their part was resented by 
the '* City Guard," as will be shown by the following proceed- 
ings of a meeting held at the armory at 2 o'clock p. m. of the 
following day, the 16th (it being duly advertised in the papers 
of that time), to take into consideration the removal of arms 
and accoutrements from their armory on the 15th instant: 

" Lieutenant Watson in the chair. 

"Lieutenant Colonel West appeared to explain his action in 
relation to the removal of said arms and accoutrements, stat- 



226 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

ing that said arms were removed by order of Major General 
Sherman,* and that he held himself personally responsible 
therefor. 

" After which the following resolutions were unanimously 
adopted: 

" Resolved, that in the opinion of this corps we have been 
unjustly and improperly deprived of our arms without the 
consent or knowledge of our commandant. 

"Resolved, therefore, that a committee be appointed to wait 
on Colonel J. R. West and request the return of the arms, and, 
in the event of said request not being complied with, the ' City 
Guard ' do immediately disband. 

" Meeting adjourned to 7:30 o'clock p. m. 

"Pursuant to adjournment, the corps assembled at the 
armory, when the following preamble and resolutions were 
unanimously adopted upon the call of the roll: 

" Whereas, the request for the return of our arms and ac- 
coutrements has been refused, we find ourselves wholly unable 
to equip our members, and deprived of the power to respond, 
as ever heretofore, to the call of duty that may be made upon 
us, therefore, 

" Resolved, That the 'City Guard ' do hereby disband. 

" Resolved, That the events of the past few days prove that we 
have ever held ourselves ready for the prompt discharge of a 
soldier's duty." 

These resolutions were signed by the sixty-one members. 

On Tuesday evening, May 27, 1856, the members again 
met and organized the " Independent City Guard," and elected 
the following officers and non corns.: Captain, John A. Clark; 
First Lieutenant, George F. Watson; Second Lieutenant, 
Asa L. Loring; Bvt. Second Lieutenant, Peter Van Pelt; Or- 
derly Sergeant, E. M. Crowell; Sergeants, Wm. H. Watson, H. 
Van Pelt, Nathaniel M. Ford; Corporals, H. H. Thrall, Luke 
Wilder, John Ames, and Chas. E. Rand; Quartermaster 
Sergeant, Ephram B.Clement; Treasurer, W. H.Watson; Sec- 
retary, John Ames. By-laws were adopted on June 25th fol- 
lowing. 

Through the generosity of the citizens who fully indorsed 
the action of the company, the "Independent City Guard" 
was fully equipped with a full set of arms and accoutrements 
similar to those taken away. The donations thus furnished 

* Commandiug Second Division, C. S. M. 



INDEPENDENT CITY GUARD. 227 

for the equipment amounted close on to $2,000. The corps 
retained, of course, the uniforms previously adopted, they 
being the personal property of its members. 

Immediately following the shooting of King, and of the 
events above described, many prominent business men and 
citizens determined upon decisive action, and, without further 
delay, the Vigilance Committee was formed, many companies 
armed and equipped. Within a comparatively short time 
three thousand men were enrolled into the companies and 
regiments thus raised. Although the ''Independent City 
Guard" took no part as an organization, the members indi- 
vidually did, and they played a very prominent part in this 
array. Chas. Doane, afterwards captain of the company, was 
Grand Marshal over all the troops, Watson and many others 
being officers therein, while the balance went into the ranks. 

On Tuesday, May 21st, Casey, together with Cora, who had 
killed United States Marshal Richardson, were taken from 
jail, there being no resistance, and hurried to the headquarters 
of the committee. There they were tried, convicted, and both 
hanged on the 22d, the day that King was buried. 

The Law and Order Party were also well organized, and 
many conflicts were narrowly averted. The committee's 
troops, however, succeeded in disarming the others, making 
them practically powerless. 

Both the California Guard and the National Guard followed 
the example of the " City Guard/' and formed independent 
organizations. 

It may be well to here add that, in all, four persons were 
executed, and a great many others were banished. On August 
18th following, all these troops, 5,137 in number, after a grand 
review and parade, were mustered out, the object of the Vigil- 
ance Committee having been accomplished. 

The three years following this important epoch in the his- 
tory of the company were uneventful as to military require- 
ments. The company drilled regularly, besides parading on 
both stated and public occasions. 

During the month of July, 1856, or perhaps a little earlier, 
the " I. C. G." moved from the armory then occupied to one 
at 112 Sacramento street, between Montgomery and Sansome, 
where they remained until the first month of 1860. 

Captain Clark resigned on April 15, 1857, and 1st Lieu- 
tenant George F. Watson was advanced to the captaincy on 
May 14th following, with Asa L. Loring as 1st Lieutenant; 



228 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Nat M. Ford 2nd Lieutenant; Benjamin H. Freeman being 
Junior 2nd Lieutenant, and William C. Little Brevet 2nd 
Lieutenant. 

The company's fancy uniform, modeled after the uniform of 
the City Guard of New York, was adopted during either April 
or May of 1858, nearly all having been made in the East; the 
first parade with them took place on July 4th of the same 
year. The cost to each individual member, including the high 
bearskin shako, was one hundred dollars. 

May, 1858, found Lieutenant Freeman in command of the 
company, Watson, Loring, and Ford having previously re- 
signed. On June 6th following, Charles Doane was elected 
captain, and John W. McKenzie 1st Lieutenant, Freeman and 
and Little 2nd and Junior 2nd Lieutenants respectively. H. 
H. Thrall being advanced to Brevet 2nd Lieutenant. 

Here ends the career of the company as the " Independent 
City Guard," for on March 11th, 1859, the organization was 
again admitted into the service of the state as the " City 
Guard," being attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Div., C. S. M. 
Witness the following order: 

"Whereas, certain petitioners, citizens of the county of San 
Francisco, have presented to me, the undersigned, county judge 
of the county aforesaid, a memorial praying that they, the said 
citizens, being eligible to military duty, may be duly enrolled 
as a volunteer corps, attached to the Second Brigade, Second 
Division C. S. M., under the name of ' City Guard,' 

" Now, therefore, in pursuance of authority vested in me, 1 
do hereby nominate and appoint Captain Thomas D. Johns to 
superintend an election to be held by the subscribers afore- 
said, on the 11th day of March, 1859, at No. 112 Sacramento 
street, for commissioned officers, in manner prescribed by 
law, between the hours of 7 and 10 p. m. 

''Witness the Honorable M. C. Blake, county judge of the 
county of San Francisco, this first day of March, one thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-nine." 

[signed] "M. C. Blake, County Judge. 

"Attest: Wm. Dun, Clerk. 

" By D. P. Belknap, Deputy.'' 

In compliance with the above, the company met and duly 
organized the "City Guard," electing the same officers as on 
June 6, 1858, with the exception that the position of brevet 
second lieutenant was left vacant. 



CHAPTER III. 

' CITY GUARD " FROM 1860 TO 1870. 



[JANUARY 1, 1860, found the " City Guard " just 
located in their new armory, in an iron build- 
ing, situated on the north side of California street, 
a few doors above Montgomery street, over Wells, Fargo 
& Co's Express. The Union Club occupied the corner 
over the bank. Many of the " City Guard " members 
belonged to this club, and both headquarters were con- 
nected by a doorway. Here the corps remained until Novem- 
ber 20, 1865 — nearly six years. 

The re-election of Doane, McKenzie, Freeman, and Little 
occurred on April 14th following, John Hill being raised to 
the dignity of brevet second lieutenant. 

Following close upon this election of officers, the First Bat- 
talion was organized, which consisted of all three arms of the 
service, namely, infantry, artillery, and cavalry. This or- 
ganization was completed on June 15, 1860, the companies 
comprising same being the "City Guard," "California 
Guard," " Black Hussars," " Light Guard," " Fusileers," and 
" French Guard." All of the members comprising these six 
companies participated in the election for field officers, which 
was by ballot, there being over two hundred votes cast. Cap- 
tain Doane was duly elected lieutenant colonel, commanding 
the battalion, and First Lieutenant McKenzie was raised to 
the rank of major. The result of this election gives to the 
"City Guard " the honor of furnishing the only two field of- 
ficers of an organization which afterwards became the nu- 
cleus for our present First Regiment; the " National Guard" 
and " California Rifles" being added later, in order to make 
the eight-company regiment. 



230 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

In consequence of the above, another company election was 
necessarily held for officers to fill vacancies. John A. Clark 
was again made captain, vice Doane; Asa L. Loring, first 
lieutenant, vice McKenzie; Little and Freeman retaining 
their former positions, while George J. Griffing was advanced 
to brevet second lieutenant, vice Hill resigned. 

We now come upon the eve of the War of the Rebellion. 
Fort Sumter had been fired upon, and opportunities became 
numerous for able generals, and bri ve men to show their 
mettle and loyalty to preserve our glorious Union. In Cali- 
fornia, although far removed from the seat of conflict, every- 
one took a lively interest in the progress of hostilities. This 
state furnished many thousands of volunteers for the strife, 
the proportion being very large for the then population; in 
fact, California furnished many soldiers who were accredited 
to other states, as history will plainly show. The " C ty 
Guard " furnished a long list of fighters, among whom were 
the following: J. M. McNulty, M. D., brigadier surgeon, Cali- 
fornia Volunteers; John Hill, lieutenant with Colonel Baker, 
California Volunteers; J. P. Hackett, captain Sixth Infantry, 
California Volunteers; Nat M. Ford quartermaster's depart- 
ment; Asa L. Loring; Robert S. La Motte, captain Thirteenth 
New York, afterwards lieutenant-colonel United States Army; 
H. B. Mellon, now retired, major United States army; William 
Bryan, Seventh New York; George F. Watson, captain 180th 
New York Volunteers; W. C. Allen, captain 101st New York 
Volunteers; Joseph Hilton, captain Twelfth New York Volun- 
teers; Joseph Henriques, captain Fourth New York Volun- 
teers; William Barstow, assistant adjutant general, General 
Dix's staff; E. G. Hilton, quartermaster's department, and 
L. Parks, with California Hundred. There are others, but 
the writer is unable at the present time to name them. 
Many of these gentlemen rose to higher rank in the service 
during the progress of the war. 

The vast majority of people on this coast elected to main- 
tain these United States one and inseparable, still there 
were those who warmly supported the secession, and condi- 
tions threatened at times to become more serious in Cali- 
fornia than would have been agreeable to peace-loving people. 
This would be particularly the case when any news came of 
the defeat of the northern arms. 

The provost marshal, who was on duty at all times, made 
many arrests of those who were too outspoken, and the militia 



CITY GUARD FROM 1860 TO 1870. 231 

were constantly on the alert, although they were but occa- 
sionally under arms. Armories had to be guarded, however, 
and the " City Guard " did full well its share of duty. 

Throughout the period covered by this chapter the mem- 
bers of the " City Guard " continued with their regular 
routine duties as required, with occasional battalion drills 
and military ceremonies, parades and escort duties, the latter 
being quite numerous. This company had no difficulty 
whatever in keeping its ranks full of enthusiastic members, 
who made the corps a truly crack organization. 

The writer can give no better evidence or proof of the con- 
dition of the " City Guard " than that offered in the adjutant 
general's report for the year 1861. In this report, speaking 
of the company, he says: 

" This is one of the oldest and best drilled companies of the 
state, is well officered and equipped, and composed of men 
who take much pride in the military art — numbering eighty- 
eight men. Has had upon its roll this year one hundred and 
forty-three members; has furnished from its ranks during this 
year one brigadier general,* one surgeon, and one captain of 
volunteers in the United States service, and three general 
staff officers. Much praise is due the members of this com- 
pany for the military enterprise at all times displayed, and 
authorities of the state can rely upon its efficiency for active 
service." 

The " First Regiment of Infantry, California Militia," was 
organized on May 28, 1861, with the previously named com- 
panies composing same. John S. Ellis was elected colonel, 
J. W. McKenzie as lieutenant colonel and Robert Pollock 
major. The companies taking the letters in accordance with 
the dates of their original organization, as follows: " Califor- 
nia Guard, Company A," " City Guard, Company B," " National 
Guard, Company C," "Black Hussars, Company D," California 
Fusileers, Company E," "Light Guard, Company F," " French 
Guard, Company G," and " California Rifles, Company H." 
Many changes have since taken place in the regimental or- 
ganization, and now, July, 1894, of the original companies 
there remain but three, namely, " City Guard, Company B," 
" National Guard, Company C," and " Light Guard, Com- 
pany F." 

* Lieutenant Colonel Charles Doane promoted brigadier general, 2nd Brigade, 2x<L 
Division, C. S. M. 



232 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

At the annual election for officers of the company in 1861 
the same ones were continued in office, with the exception 
that the position of brevet second lieutenant was left vacant, 
vice Griffing. 

Up to June 28, 1861, the " City Guard" drilled with, 
and used for the purposes of the state, the same arms and 
accoutrements so kindly furnished them by the citizens in 
1856; at this time, however, the state authorities issued the 
following to the company, all being of the same pattern as 
previously owned by the corps: sixty muskets, gun-slings, 
bayonets, and scabbards; sixty cartridge-boxes, belts and 
plates; sixty waist-belts and plates, with the same number of 
cap pouches; four sergeant's swords and scabbards, belts and 
plates. 

The several companies of the regiment wore different style 
uniforms, representing, as has been said, all colors of the 
rainbow. The board of officers determined upon adopting 
one for the entire regiment, one that would be serviceable in 
case they were called upon for active duty. They therefore 
addressed themselves to the citizens of San Francisco, who 
soon came forward with the requisite amount to purchase 
same, and along toward the middle of the year 1861 the 
regiment was finally fitted out with a gray regimental uni- 
form, the cost of which was twelve dollars. 

All the troops in the Second Brigade, Second Division, 
C. S. M., during the month of November, 1861, were re- 
quired to take the oath of allegiance before Judge Blake, in 
substance as follows: " To support the constitution of the 
United States and of the state of California, solemnly agree- 
ing to defend both against all enemies, both foreign and 
domestic." The "City Guard" came forward with a larger 
membership than any of the other companies. 

The company was well received by the best society in the 
city of San Francisco. This fact is abundantly evident from 
the many events that transpired during its early history. It 
will be impossible, however, to detail all the interesting social 
festivities of these days, but in order that the writer's asser- 
tions may carry conviction with it, the following historical 
fact is recited: A military and civic subscription ball was 
given at Piatt's Hall, on the evening of Friday, December 27, 
1861, complimentary to the officers of the Russian steam 
corvette Calevala, by the citizens of San Francisco, as a 



CITY GUARD FROM 1S60 TO 1870. 233 

token of the public appreciation of the friendly spirit mani- 
fested by the Emperor of all the Russias toward our federal 
government. All arrangements for this ball were confided to 
the members of the " City Guard " by a committee of the most 
prominent people. Lieutenant Win. C. Little was floor man- 
ager, assisted by four noncommissioned officers of the com- 
pany. Captain Clark, chairman of the reception committee, 
was assisted by all the other members of the company, every 
one being in the full fancy uniform of the corps. The 
"press," in describing the affair, spoke thus of the "City 
Guard ": " One of the most spirited and efficient of our local 
uniform militia companies, whose proverbial good taste was 
fully sustained in the admirable manner in which the ball 
was conducted." 

In May, 1862, Little was advanced to Second Lieutenant, 
vice Freeman, Fred W.Macondry, Jr., was made junior second 
lieutenant, vice Little promoted. The result of the election 
for officers of the company with rank, from August 8th, fol- 
lowing was: Captain, Wm. C. Little, vice Clark, promoted 
lieutenant colonel First Regiment; Fred W. Macondry, Jr., 
first lieutenant, vice Loring; R. M. Noyes, second lieutenant, 
vice Little promoted; John Hoyt as junior second lieutenant, 
vice Macondry promoted. This quartet of officers remained 
thus until September 4, 1865. 

The first camp of the state militia was held in May, 1863, 
in pursuance to orders from general headquarters. This 
camp was named "Stanford" after the commander in chief, 
and the expense was borne by the state. 

The legislature of California opened its heart to help the 
militia financially, on April 25, 1863, the first time on record. 
Appropriations were made for its maintenance, three hun- 
dred dollars per year for each company of infantry, besides 
requiring the counties to furnish twenty-five dollars per 
month for armory rents. It also provided for two encamp- 
ments, the above being one of them, and for full-dress uni- 
forms for the entire force. These, made of blue, were issued 
during same year. It also passed the clause to exempt militia- 
men from jury duty after serving faithfully for a period of 
seven years. 

Company B, "City Guard," First Regiment of Infantry, par- 
ticipated as a company in its first camp, a Second Brigade 
affair, from the 6th to the 16th of October, 1863. Camp 



234 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Allen, named after the commander of the Second Division, 
was held near San Antonio, Alameda county, the state defray- 
ing the expense. 

The company received its first improved arms on February 
20, 1865. These were the "rifle muskets" of 58 caliber, 
model 1861. Sixty of these, together with a full set of ac- 
coutrements, the same kind as before used, were issued to the 
Company, and those previously carried were returned to gen- 
eral headquarters during the following month. Twenty extra 
muskets came to the company during October following. 

In April of the same year, when the news of the assassina- 
tion of our martyred President, Abraham Lincoln, was re- 
ceived, San Francisco became wild with excitement; mobs 
quickly gathered, and endeavored to wreck the printing-offices 
of those who had advocated secession, and of those who had 
been so rabid in their utterances that they had really done 
the next thing but actually advocate the killing of the Presi- 
dent. The feeling against these people can well be imagined. 
Some considerable damage was done before the authorities 
were able to act; finally, when the militia was called upon, the 
"City Guard" was the first company to report at the rende- 
vous, and it was the only company whose every member was 
in complete uniform. Guards were kept on the other offices 
that had escaped the fury of the mob up to this time. Guards 
were also kept over loyal newspapers, for fear that the rioters 
would so far forget themselves as to wreck them too. Con- 
siderable trouble was experienced, and many broken heads 
was the result. As soon as matters quieted down the troops 
were dismissed. 

Little was again re-elected September 4, 1865, with William 
M. Noyes as first lieutenant, vice Macondry; George W. 
Granniss, second lieutenant, vice Noyes promoted; T. Van Tas- 
sel, junior second lieutenant, date from October 3, 1865, vice 
Hoyt. The latter remained in his position but a short time, 
going again into the ranks, presumed to be upon the reorgan- 
ization as the National Guard of California. 

On November 20, 1865, the company moved from California 
street to an armory situated on the top floor of a three-story 
building on the south side of Market street, opposite Dupont. 
Remaining there until April following. 

April 2, 1868, saw the last of the " California State Mili- 
tia," for upon this date the Legislature passed the law creating 



CITY GUARD FROM 1860 TO 1870. 235 

the " National Guard of California," together with a general 
revision of the codes governing the state forces. Among 
the principal features of this bill we find : A limit to the 
number of companies; allowing but three officers to each 
infantry company, same to hold office for two years; field 
officers to be elected for four years. 

Soon after this bill became a law a complete reorganization 
took place, and many companies were necessarily mustered 
out of the service. Orders were issued from general head- 
quarters on July 12, 1866 (see S. 0. No. 3 series of 1866), 
directing the immediate organization of the Second Brigade, 
in accordance with this law. This was accomplished the next 
month. 

The " City Guard " Company B, retained its position in the 
First Regiment, and sixty-seven members of the company 
took the following oath on the twenty-first day of August, 
1866, before the mustering-in officer, Major George W. Smiley, 
Asst. Adj. Gen., 2nd Brig., N. G. C. 

" Company " B," First Regiment Infantry; Second Brigade, 
N. G. C. 

" State of California, ) 

" City and County of San Francisco. $ 

" You do solemnly swear and pledge your honor that you 
" will support the constitution of the United States, and the 
" constitution of the state of California, and that you will 
" maintain and defend the laws and all officers lawfully em- 
"ployed in administering the same." 

Little, Noyes, and Granniss were retained as the three com- 
pany officers, Van Tassel taking the oath as a private. 

April 24, 1866, again found the "City Guard " located in a 
new armory, this time at No. 617 Howard street, opposite New 
Montgomery, in the second story, the California Guard being 
on the ground floor. This was its home until February, 1871. 

During October, 1866, the company received eighty new 
full-dress uniforms from the state. They were of the same 
pattern as those of 1863, but without the piping of white cord. 

George W. Granniss was elected captain during October 
also, vice Little, promoted major; Stephen H. Smith, first 
lieutenant, vice Noyes; and David Wilder, second lieutenant, 
vice Granniss promoted. 



236 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

Two years after, October 19, 1868, found another change 
in officers. Granniss having been elected major, Douglass 
Gunn was elected captain, and Chalmers Scott first lieutenant, 
vice Smith. Wilder was re-elected second lieutenant. Gunn 
resigned, and Chalmers Scott was raised to the captaincy on 
November 1, 1869. At the same time Wilder was made first 
lieutenant, and Horace D. Ranlett, second lieutenant. 

During the latter part of 1869 the company readopted the 
"fancy uniform," which lasted, as near as the writer can de- 
termine, until 1874 or 1875. It was not worn much, however, 
during the latter part of the period named. 

During the month of November, 1869, a fire occurred, 
which did considerable damage to the arms and accoutre- 
ments of the company. These arms and accoutrements were 
condemned by a Board of Survey, and new ones issued on 
December 21st following, those damaged having been returned 
to the state authorities. 



CHAPTER IV. 
from 1870 to 1880. 



\ ITH July, 1870, came another change in the officers 
of the company, Thomas J. Johnson being elected 
captain, to rank from April 15th, vice Scott, re- 
signed on account of his removal to the southern 
portion of the state, the other officers retaining their 
former positions. 

Following close upon this election of officers, the com- 
pany received a full fatigue uniform through the exertions 
of Colonel Barnes. The description of this uniform is not at 
hand at the present time, but it is presumed that the only 
addition was a blue single-breasted blouse of about the pat- 
tern now (1894) worn, together with the regulation cap. 

The building on the northwest corner of Howard and New 
Montgomery streets became the armory of the "City Guard," 
in February, 1871. The company occupied rooms on the sec- 
ond floor, together with other companies of the regiment, the 
first drill being held on the 7th of that month. This place 
was retained as headquarters until November, 1875. 

1st Lieutenant David Wilder was elected captain, to rank 
from March 14, 1871, vice Johnson, resigned on account of 
sickness. Ranlett was promoted to the 1st lieutenancy, and 
J. Henry P. Gedge to fill the position left vacant by Ranlett, 
both to rank from March 23d. 

An organization in Amador county, this state, known as 
the Laborers' League, was formed for the protection of white 
labor, and not only miners, but many others, belonged to it. 
They assumed to fix the wages to suit themselves, and any 
one who refused to accept their terms was not allowed to work. 
Trouble, therefore, ensued between them and the mine-owners, 



238 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

as the latter would not recognize the right of the league to 
interfere in their business arrangements. A strike was or- 
dered in consequence. The mines were shut down, for the 
league would not allow any one to work, not even at the 
pumps, in order to keep the mines free from water. Damages 
to the extent of about $75,000 having been accomplished by 
the strikers, the owners of these mines called upon the gov- 
ernor for protection. 

This was the condition of affairs on June 22, 1871, when 
Colonel W. H. L. Barnes, commanding the First Infantry, 
received orders from general headquarters at Sacramento to 
immediately detail a battalion of two companies for service 
in the field. The entire regiment was assembled, " B " 
reporting with forty-eight rank and file, but companies " C " 
and " E " were selected for this campaign. As more men 
were necessary than were available in the companies named, 
details from the balance of the regiment were made to fill up 
the ranks of the battalion. Although the "B" boys were all 
anxious to go, Captain Wilder was only allowed to detail one 
sergeant, two corporals, and ten privates, namely: Sergeant 
T. N. Weightman, Corporals James J. E. Hawkins and Arthur 
A. Palmer, Privates George G. Bergstrom, Charles W. Bryant, 
James M. Guerin, August G. Jenny, John Martin, William V. 
McConnell, Harry F. Middleton, William M. Noyes, E. E. 
Stacy, and H. Nelson Wright. The battalion was under the 
command of Major J. F. Bronson. 

The detailed battalion left the same day that the order was 
received, and was gone twenty-seven days. Their duty was 
performed so well that they experienced no trouble from the 
miners. 

Major Bronson died soon after his arrival home, caused by 
the exposure during the campaign. C. Poindexter gives evi- 
dence to the fact that James Guerin of "B" also died from the 
same causes after arriving at his home. 

In the latter part of the year 1871, another fire occurred in 
the armory of the " City Guard," this time destroying the 
records of the company, and doing great damage to the arms 
and other property of the organization. S. 0., No. 34, series 
of 1871, from general headquarters at Sacramento, and dated 
December 20th, condemns the arms and accoutrements of 
the "City Guard," Company B, First Regiment of Infantry, 
N. G. C, which were damaged by fire, and a requisition for 
new approved. 



from 1870 to 1880. 239 

Lieutenant Gedge resigned on December 28, 1872, and 
Sidney M. Smith was elected second lieutenant to fill this 
vacancy, with rank from January 2, 1873. June 5th follow- 
ing found Wilder re-elected to the captaincy, while Smith was 
advanced to first lieutenant, vice Ranlett; Henry A. Plate, 
second lieutenant, vice Smith promoted. 

In 1873 the First Regiment received new arms and equip- 
ments, and the new regulation uniform. General Order No. 
1, from headquarters of the National Guard of California, 
dated January 30, 1873, adopts the United States regulation 
uniform for the forces of this state. These arms and equip- 
ments, together with the uniforms, were paid for through the 
efforts of Colonel W. H. L. Barnes, who raised upwards of 
$30,000 to pay for same. These rifles were the first of the 
breech-loaders to be received by any organization on the 
coast, and it was because of the energetic leaders that the reg- 
iment w T as so fitted out. On June 22d the " City Guard " re- 
ceived its quota of the new arms, duplicate receipts being 
given to Colonel Barnes, Lieutenant Colonel George W. Gran- 
niss, and Major Oscar Woodhams, as trustees for said prop- 
erty, the same to be returned upon demand, viz., sixty each 
of the following: Sharp's metallic cartridge army rifles, 
caliber fifty and model new, bayonets, cartridge boxes and 
plates, cartridge-box belts, waist-belts and plates, uniform 
hats. The company returned the old ones to Sacramento on 
the 25th, three days later. 

The uniform adopted was of the same general description 
as that of 1866, with perhaps a few minor changes. 

The following officers were elected with rank from April 1, 
1875: Henry A. Plate, captain, vice Wilder promoted major; 
Thomas J. O'Keeffe, first lieutenant, vice Smith; Edward F. 
Sellick, second lieutenant, vice Plate promoted. 

COMPANY BADGE. 

The first mention of a badge for the company was made 
on October 9, 1873, a number of designs being offered, but 
no immediate action was taken. Between this date and 
the New Year discussions were had upon the subject, and 
in February, 1874, an attempt was made to abandon the 
idea, but this was voted down. Matters rested until the early 
months of the following year, when about fifteen designs 
were again offered, and from these, five or six of the best ones 



240 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

selected, and given into the hands of a committee. This com- 
mittee made up one design, adopting the best features of those 
in hand, and presented the result to the company for final 
action. This badge was accepted, as near as the writer can 
determine, some time during June, 1875. A facsimile of this 
badge can be seen on the cover of this book. 

The " City Guard," together with the entire regiment, 
participated in the 2nd brigade encampment held at San 
Rafael on the 20th, 21st, and 22d of May, 1875, Brevet Major 
General W. L. Elliott, U. S. A., being in command. Quite a 
number of United States troops were also present. 

One of the most pleasing episodes in the history of the com- 
pany occurred on August 7, 1875, when Captain Plate, on 
behalf of himself and sister, Miss Josie Plate, presented to 
the organization a beautiful silk national flag, which has ever 
been prized most highly by the members of the " City Guard," 
and many are the times that they have paraded beneath its 
classic folds. 

Upon this same evening the captain also presented to the 
company what is known as the Plate Badge. This badge is 
the permanent property of the " City Guard," and it is annu- 
ally placed in competition as a shooting decoration. This 
badge is described as a massive scroll shield, weighing almost 
two ounces in gold. In the center of this shield is the mono- 
gram " C. G." in large lettering, surmounted by a bear, over 
which stands in bold relief the name " Plate Badge," all of 
which is enameled in black, the groundwork being beauti- 
fully hand chased. On the reverse side is the following 
inscription: Presented to the "City Guard" by Captain 
H. A. Plate, August 7, 1875. Miss Josie Plate was elected an 
honorary member of the company on the 19th of August. 
She is the only lady who has that distinction. 

Some time previous to September, 1875, this company 
received the breech-loading Springfield rifle from the state 
authorities. These are the 45-70 now in use. Sixty were 
allotted to "B." 

The second week of November of this year found the com- 
pany located in a new home. This time the move was made 
to No. 318 Post street, opposite the square, between Stockton 
and Powell streets, on the north side. This armory was 
owned and occupied by Company C, the " National Guard " 
of the First. Here the " City Guard " remained until the 
last of July, 1879. 



FUOM 1S70 to 1880. 241 

Another beautiful annual shooting prize was presented to 
the company by Miss May C. Bourn, on the evening of May 
4, 1S76. This handsome affair is in the shape of a heavy 
solid silver cup or vase, and is known generally as the " Bourn 
Cup." The winner of this cup holds it for one year, when it 
is then again competed for. 

Not to be outdone by others in this era of beautiful gifts, 
Color Corporal Louis R. Townsend, the old-old veteran, came 
gallantly forward on July 4th with another very appropriate 
gift to the company of a flag-case. This flag-case is built of 
oak and ebony woods, with the entire front of glass. It is 
sufficiently large to hold the full spread of the " City Guard " 
flag so kindly presented during the previous year. The case, 
with the flag therein, now adorns the wall of " B's" head- 
quarters. With the true characieristic feeling of a " City 
Guard " veteran, and a true soldier, the corporal caused the 
following inscription to be carved upon the base of this gift: 

Beneath thy folds we march at duty's call, 
With thee we'll conquer, or with thee we'll fall. 

On October 20, 1876, the company was under arms in an- 
ticipation of a riot and threats of attack upon the Chinese 
quarter of San Francisco. November 7th following found the 
organization again under arms, and this, too, for the same 
reason. The National Guard was held in readiness during 
this period for active duty, there being considerable excite- 
ment in the city over the troubles caused by unscrupulous 
agitators. 

December 28th found the " City Guard Rifle Range" com- 
pleted at San Bruno. This range was the gift of Captain 
Plate, who with William Unger, Charles Slocum, and the old 
veteran Lou Townsend, devoted their labor to its construc- 
tion. This range was used for a good many years; but, 
finally, on account of the time lost in traveling to and fro, 
and to the lack of interest in shooting, it was finally given up. 

At the election for officers in 1877 John H. Dickinson was 
elected Captain, vice Plate; E. F. Selleck, First Lieutenant, 
vice O'Keeffe; and Louis R. Townsend, Second Lieutenant, 
vice Selleck promoted; all to rank from April 5th. 

The excitement of the previous year continued well into 
1877 and 1878, and things began to get warmer and warmer 
for the Chinese as time rolled on. Kearney and his crowd of 
agitators were at work, endeavoring, as they claimed, to drive 



242 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

the hated race from our shores. Matters got beyond the con- 
trol of the local authorities, and they called upon the governor 
for aid. That part of the National Guard located in San 
Francisco was ordered under arms on July 23, 1877, and were 
held in its armories for a period of seven days. The Safety 
Committee, having been organized into pick-handle brigades, 
patrolled the streets of the city, while the organized and well- 
disciplined troops were cooped up in their armories, and were 
not allowed to do the duty which they had taken an oath to 
perform. Was this not strange? Perhaps the following will 
serve to explain matters somewhat. 

The chief of police, together with the other civil author- 
ities, was jealous of his powers, and feared to put matters 
into the hands of the military. Why? Because they feared 
that some one else would reap a little benefit besides them- 
selves, and that they might lose a vote or two, perhaps. 'Tis 
the same old story, which is told and retold so many times 
over, jealousy and the narrow-minded policy of self-interest. 
In the absence of martial law the civil authorities were, of 
course, in full control, and the military were subservient unto 
them. They saw fit to keep disciplined organizations in their 
armories, while the undisciplined citizens were parading the 
streets with their bits of wood. Time and again have the 
National Guards of our different states been placed in just 
such a predicament, and when politics are thrust into the 
background, and civil offices are occupied by fair-minded men 
whose sole aim is the welfare of the state, and not till then, 
will the National Guard occupy the place designed for it in 
the government of our country. 

But we're outflanking our story. Therefore to resume. 
These much abused civil authorities must have become 
ashamed of themselves, for, upon the night of July 29th, they 
detailed the military to the water-front in order that they 
might protect the piles of potatoes that were strewn around 
on the wharves. From what ? It must have been from the 
wharf-rats, as all trouble had ceased to exist in the city, as 
is evidenced by the fact that next morning, the 30th, all 
were dismissed to their homes, military, pick-handle brigades, 
and all. 

On November 10th, the troops were again called out for 
duty for a period of nine days, the cause being the same as 
above stated. Again, on January 16, 1878, the troops were 
called upon for aid in quelling rioters. This time their tour 



from 1870 to 1880. 243 

of duty lasted for eleven days. It is needless to say that the 
" City Guard" was prominent among the city's defenders, even 
to the guarding of the potato-sacks 

The " City Guard" participated in the regimental encamp- 
ment held at Sacramento from September 18th to the 22d, 
1878, inclusive. This camp was named after the Commander- 
in-chief, Governor Irwin. It was at this camp that the State 
Agricultural Society gave two prizes for a competitive drill. 
Each competing company was to drill for an hour, three reg- 
ular army officers being judges. Company " D" of the First 
took the first prize of $300, and the " City Guard" the second 
of $200. The first prize was won by but a very few points 
indeed. 

April 5, 1879, found Captain Dickinson and First Lieu- 
tenant Selleck re-elected, and Henry A. Plate as 2d Lieutenant 
to rank from the same date, vice Townsend. 

The company was on duty again during the Kalloch-De 
Young troubles of 1879. The members, with few exceptions, 
placed their pay direct into the treasury of the company. 

On August 1st of this year the company removed from the 
armory then occupied to No. 428 Post street, north side, be- 
tween Powell and Mason streets. The building was once 
known as Mrs. Mirasole's dancing academy. Many a good 
time was had there, too. Here the company remained until 
June 1, 1881. 

Camp Walsh was the camp pitched by the First Regiment 
at Sacramento, from September 10th to the 14th, 1879, in- 
clusive. The members of the "City Guard" enjoyed them- 
selves very much indeed at this camp. 

During the ten years covered by this chapter the "City 
Guard" of course paid considerable attention to the social 
features that necessarily take place in an organization of this 
kind. Parties, picnics, target excursions, out-of-town trips, 
camps, and rackets claimed their proper attention. It became 
hard, however, for company commanders to keep their com- 
panies up to a proper military standard, and the attention to 
these duties was of a lukewarm nature. A great many things 
worked against the making of prosperous commands. The 
"City Guard" felt the influences of these conditions, and con- 
tinued to feel them, too, away along toward the middle of the 
eighties, when new life was gradually let into the organization, 
and conditions became more encouraging and satisfactory to 
those who took the deepest interest in company affairs. 



CHAPTER V. 

from 1880 to 1894. 



> ARLY in the year 1880 the company experienced 
! quite a boom in membership, the roll reaching to 
& considerable proportions, prizes having been offered 
r to the two members who would do the most recruiting 
within a given time. The company had in view the new 
uniforms to be presented by a committee of citizens, and 
it was the general desire that the roll be increased. The 
" City Guard" duly received its proportion of these uniforms, 
which were the regulation as previously w r orn. 

First Sergeant Paul E. Scott was, on April 5th, elected 
second lieutenant, vice H. A. Plate resigned. On July 26th, 
following, Selleck was made captain, vice Dickinson promoted 
Colonel First Infantry, and J. C. B. Hebbard, first lieutenant, 
vice Selleck promoted. 

That part of the Second Brigade located in San Francisco 
was on duty at the county jail, and in their armories, during 
the troubles of April, 1880, when Chas. de Young was shot 
by young Kalloch. The companies were hastily summoned, 
but again dismissed in a few days, when the excitement had 
subsided. 

Camp Barnes, regimental, in which this company par- 
ticipated, was held at Sacramento from the 18th to the 26th 
of September, 1880. While returning to San Francisco, the 
train bearing the regiment, ran into an open switch on the 
Oakland Mole. Engineer Win. C. Browne, by his presence 
of mind and heroic action in sticking to his post of duty, 
saved the members of the regiment from a fearful death, he 
being the only one who lost his life. The engine went through 
the wharf into the bay, and, when afterwards found, Browne 
was still standing upright, with his hand on the throttle, dead. 



from 1880 to 1894. 245 

Proper action was taken by tie board of officers, in an elab- 
orate set of resolutions, and substantial aid was given to 
his mother and sister, who were dependent upon him for sup- 
port. 

The next camp, Camp Upton, was held at Santa Cruz from 
the 2d to the 10th of July, 1881. 

On June 1, 1881, the "City Guard" took possession of its 
new quarters on the N. W. corner of Howard and New Mont- 
gomery streets, this being the second time that the company 
had had its armory upon that corner. This was also regi- 
mental headquarters; remained there until early in 1888. 

Samuel J. Taylor was elected first lieutenant, vice Hebbard 
resigned, on June 27, 1881, and, on the 15th of September 
following, August F. Plate was made second lieutenant, vice 
Scott resigned. March 2, 1882, found Taylor captain, vice 
Selleck retired; Plate, first lieutenant, vice Taylor promoted, 
and J. C. Conrad, second lieutenant, vice Plate promoted. 

The regimental camps of the two following years, 1882 and 
1883, were held at San Jose, from July 1st to the 9th of each 
year. In both cases a return trip was made to San Francisco 
for the Fourth of July parade, the regiment reaching San Jose 
again in time for the parade there in the evening. The camp 
of 1882 was named Camp Sheehan, and that of 1883 Camp 
San Jose. 

Second Lieutenant Conrad resigned on July 11, 1883. 
Francis J. Kremple was elected first lieutenant, vice Plate 
resigned, to rank from December 12, 1883, the second lieu- 
tenancy being left vacant. 

In 1884 the regimental camp was held at Santa Rosa from 
the 6th to the 14th of September. 

The first division camp held by the State troops was at 
Santa Cruz, from August 15th to the 23d, 1885, the camp be- 
ing named after the Commander in Chief, Governor Stone- 
man. Company "B" was comfortably situated in its quarters 
with the regiment, and cheerfully performed all duties re- 
quired. The First Regiment, through its own commissary, 
furnished the meals to its members; other regiments, how- 
ever, were not so fortunate, they depending upon a caterer for 
their subsistence. This caterer furnished any thing but what 
was satisfactory to the men, the principal "kick" being 
against so much "tripe," which was served out too frequently 
for their tastes. After the sham battle of Saturday the hill 



246 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

upon which it took place was christened " Tripe Hill," and is 
known as such to this day. 

Frank J. Warren succeeded Kremple as first lieutenant on 
May 28, 1885, the latter having resigned; the second lieuten- 
ancy being left vacant. Ex-First Sergeant George R. Burdick 
was elected to the captaincy of the company on October 22, 
1885, vice Taylor promoted major of the regiment. There 
was no second lieutenant. 

Major Taylor, upon leaving the " City Guard," presented 
the company with what is known as the "Taylor Badge." 
The inscription on the back of this handsome gift is as fol- 
lows: First prize, Thanksgiving Day Shoot. Taylor. Novem- 
ber 26, 1885. 

The so-called Sutter street riots, including both the Sutter 
and Geary cable roads, received the attention of the forces of 
the Second Brigade, although they were not sent out against 
the rioters, the police being ample for that purpose. Heavy 
guards were kept at the armories, however, for nearly two 
months. Dynamite and coercion were used by small parties 
of the strikers and individuals, but as a body they made no 
riotous demonstrations. The armory guards were posted on 
December 13, 1886, and were continued until February, 1887. 
Many of the members who then belonged to the ''City Guard " 
will perhaps remember the pay received, and will undoubt- 
edly remember the " one dollar and sixty cents" chalked all 
over the city's walls and fences, with the accompanying witti- 
cisms of would be wags. The pay of the enlisted man was as 
follows: Allowance for meals, seventy-five cents; for quarters, 
forty cents; for pay proper, forty-five cents; a grand total of 
one dollar and sixty cents for a day of twenty-four hours. 
Officers received nothing whatsoever. 

"Soldier, will you work"? 

Irving B. Cook was elected first lieutenant, to rank from 
May 19, 1887, vice Warren appointed signal officer, regimental 
staff. 

The first brigade camp held for quite a number of years 
was at Healdsburg for eight days, from the 2d to the 10th of 
July, 1887. Camp Bartlett was named after the governor, 
and commander in chief. Company "B" made its accus- 
tomed showing at this school of instruction, occupying the 
street allotted to it by the regimental commander. 



from 1880 to 1894. 247 

This camp was styled the " Jonah camp" by the boys, as 
three deaths occurred, two by drowning, and one, Sergeant 
Major William Mitchell, appointed from this company, died 
from the effects of exposure. 

The "City Guard" moved into its present quarters, at 
1327 Market street, on April 4, 1888. The company ex- 
pended a great deal of money in fitting its rooms up appro- 
priately. "B," with companies "A," " D," "F," and " H," 
leased this armory, which had been built expressly for them, 
for a period of ten years, each having two rooms for the use of 
its members. 

San Jose, for the third time, received the regimental camp, 
for the year 1888, on July 21st, for eight days. 

The company received new uniforms during the year 1888. 
These were the United States regulation as previously worn. 
The state furnished this lot of uniforms, and the general fit 
of them was some thing terrible to look upon, being the fault 
of the contractors. Ten new Springfield rifles, model of 
1883, came to the headquarters of company " B," these rifles 
being an improvement over those of 1873, in that the safety 
notch was added, with the Buffington rear and front sights. 
At different times subsequent to 1888 two more issues were 
made of ten and nine respectively. 

At a social reunion of the " City Guard," on Monday 
evening, October 22, 1888, L. D. Stone, Esq., an honorary 
member of the company, presented the organization with a 
magnificent bearskin screen. 

Camp Orton, named after the Adjutant General of this 
State, was a regimental camp held at Santa Rosa, from the 
20th to the 28th of July, 1889. The next two were Second 
Brigade affairs, both being held at Santa Cruz — that of 1890, 
Camp Waterman, from the 16th to the 24th of August, and 
that of 1891, Camp Markham, from the 4th, after parade, 
to the 12th of July. In all three of these camps the " City 
Guard " participated. 

On October 28, 1889, F. A. Baldwin was elected 2nd Lieu- 
tenant, vice self, resigned October 5, 1888, the vacancy not 
having been filled in the mean time. 

By an amendment to the codes governing the National 
Guard of California the Legislature authorized the issuance 
of service medals for ten years and upward, the material be- 
ing of bronze with a bronze bar for ten years, silver bar for 
fifteen, and a gold bar for twenty years' service. 



248 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

On January 10, 1891, First Lieutenant Irving B. Cook was 
elected captain, vice Burdick promoted major. Upon the 
same date, First Sergeant Charles J. Wesson was raised to the 
dignity of first lieutenant, vice Cook promoted. On June 
22d, same year, Edward C. Lundquist took Baldwin's position 
as second lieutenant, he having resigned, and, on April 25, 

1892, Lundquist was promoted to first lieutenant, vice Wesson 
resigned, George Filmer taking the second lieutenancy upon 
the same evening, vice Lundquist promoted. 

The second division camp, Camp Columbus, was held at 
Santa Cruz, from the 5th to the 13th of August, 1892, Major 
General W. H. Dimond commanding. 

Perhaps the most enjoyable and most satisfactory camp 
participated in by the members of "B" was "Camp City 
Guard," a company affair held for five days at Stockton in 

1893, from July 1st to the morning of the 6th. The river 
steamer Mary Garratt was chartered for the transportation of 
the men both ways. Companies "A" and " B " of the Sixth 
Infantry, located at Stockton, headed by their band, escorted 
the " City Guard," upon their arrival, to Goodwater Grove, 
where the advance guard had already pitched the tents. 
Regular routine duty was immediately inaugurated. Fifty- 
nine officers and men participated in Camp " City Guard," 
and all regretted the time for leaving, the reception accorded 
them by the boys and ci izens of Stockton having been most 
pleasing indeed. The expense of this camp was paid out of 
the company treasury, and amounted to a little less than 
$4 per man, including transportation, entertaining, and 
every thing. 

Early in the year 1894 new fatigue uniforms were issued to 
the guard. The Legislature, in 1893, practically did away with 
the regulation full dress, giving to regimental organizations 
the privilege of adopting a distinct uniform, to be purchased 
at their own expense. (None have thus far availed them- 
selves of said privilege.) 

One of the crowning glories of the " City Guard," "B" 
Company, First Infantry, N. G. C, was when the company 
received the elegant Silver Loving Cup, a trophy presented 
by Major General W. H. Dimond to the regiment for compe- 
tition by the seven companies, and cadets composing same, 
while at Camp Dimond, Santa Cruz, covering the eight 
days from June 16th to the 24th, 1894. The judges for this 



from 1S80 to 1891. 251 

competition were First Lieutenant George W. Mclver, 
Seventh Infantry, U. S. A.; First Lieutenant E. C. Holly, 
Fourth Infantry, U. S. A.; and Captain T. J. Cunningham, 
Second Artillery, N. G. C. 

This trial for supremacy was to continue for the entire 
week at camp, the conditions being the best general discipline, 
deportment, promptness in performing all military duties, 
knowledge of said duties, general appearance of the men, both 
in camp and in town, best general condition of tents and 
company streets, soldierly bearing of the men, general effi- 
ciency in drill for the entire week, and the manner of con- 
ducting same, and any other military details that the judges 
may notice. All to end with a competitive drill at the end 
of the week. 

On the Sunday that the regiment returned from camp 
General Dickinson presented the cup to the company, the 
judges having unanimously decided that the City Guard had 
fairly won it. 

The writer has given in chapter 6 of this history a narrative 
of the company in musket and rifle practice, together with 
the improvements made in arms and shooting conditions, 
since its organization in 1854. It will be noted that " B " 
company is not only well up in drill, but the members know 
how to shoot also, as the following chapter will amply demon- 
strate. 

It is certainly unfortunate that lack of both time and space 
will not allow of detailed descriptions of the " City Guard's" 
many social and pleasurable events of the past forty years; 
it would indeed fill volumes to enumerate them all. For the 
same reasons the long list of members cannot be given at 
this writing. Notwithstanding these conditions, every one 
who has ever been actively connected with the old " City 
Guard " will assuredly recall the different events that trans- 
pired during his time as though it were but yesterday. Think 
of the many parties, musicales, rackets, two-day outings you 
have enjoyed; banquets, smokers, and many, many other cele- 
brations of the past, and recall the many happy days spent 
with comrades in the ranks of your old love, the "City 
Guard." 



CHAPTER VI. 



FORTY-ONE YEARS TARGET PRACTICE. 



|HE first experience of the "City Guard" in rifle, or 
rather musket, practice, was on July 4, 1854, at Mar- 
tinez. Upon that occasion the members shot for an 
elegant gold watch, which had been donated by a 
friend of the organization. One shot only was allowed 
each man at a target placed sixty yards distant. The fire- 
arm used was the one then carried by the corps. This 
shoot was not the regular one as required by law. 

The company journeyed to the Oakland side of the bay on 
the 18th of August following, for its regular medal and prize 
competition. This is where the " Clark" medal first made its 
appearance, and constituted the chief prize. 

The gun used in the early days of target practice, and as 
issued by our State to the company, was the old style muzzle 
loading, smooth bore percussion musket, model of 1842, with 
a very long barrel, one upon the muzzle of which an average 
size man could easily rest his chin while standing, the butt of 
the piece being on the ground. The caliber of this firearm 
was .69 of an inch. Members were allowed to use any charge 
powder they wished, the bullet being round. This musket 
superseded the old "flint lock." No dependence could be 
placed upon it for close shooting, however, even at the short 
range of those days. It continued to be the principal arm of 
the California service until 1865, when an improved musket 
was issued. 

The regulation target consisted of a one-inch board painted 
white, 22 inches wide by 6 feet long in the clear, to represent 
the size of a man, without taking the outline of one. The 
bull's-eye was black and round, 4 inches in diameter, and 



FORTY-ONE YEARS' TARGET PRACTICE. 253 

placed equidistant from each edge of the target, and two feet 
from the top. Three shots were allowed each man, their 
value being determined by " string measure," that is, the dis- 
tance from center of bullet hole to center of bull's-eye. The 
aggregate of each man's three shots was taken, and the one with 
the shortest " string " took first prize, the next shortest the 
second, and so on. All misses, and there were many of them, 
counted forty-nine and one-half inches, this being the distance 
from the bull's-eye to the extreme lower corners of the target. 
Many times did the average number of hits fall below 40 per 
cent of the shots fired. 

Other styles of targets were sometimes used by the company, 
but when this was done it was an exception to the general 
rule. A round target, two feet in diameter, occasionally met 
with favor, and upon one or two days of that period the com- 
pany put up a target which represented the figure of an Indian 
warrior, nicely painted, bearing the usual bull's-eye. The 
guests, as a general thing, fired away at a round target about 
thirty inches in diameter. 

Three judges, usually officers of other military organiza- 
tions, and selected from the guests of the company, and who 
were generally stationed at a safe distance from one flank of 
the target, did the marking and scoring. A shot having been 
fired, they hastened to investigate the result, and, finding a 
hit, would duly measure it, plug up the hole with a wooden 
or cork plug furnished for the purpose, and number it to cor- 
respond with the man shooting, also numbering the target 
alongside the shot. Before retiring they would indicate the 
shot to the firing point by pointing at it, and if a miss by 
waving a white handkerchief. The judges kept the score by 
recording the value of each shot in a book kept for that pur- 
pose against the man's number. After the close of the com- 
petition, then would the winners be declared, and prizes 
distributed at once. It took a long time for a company of say 
forty or forty-five men to shoot under these conditions. This 
is why only three shots were allowed. 

An elegant lunch was always provided by the members of 
the "City Guard" upon the shooting days, and the commis- 
sary wagon was loaded down with all good things that money 
could buy. In the evening it was the usual thing for them 
to entertain their guests at a banquet given at some well- 
known hotel of the city. These excursions cost a great deal 



254 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

of money, which was generally provided for by assessing the 
members. This custom remained in vogue for quite a number 
of years. In 1861, when the "City Guard " became Company 
" B " of the First Infantry. 

1860 brought with it the first change in the regulation 
target, by the addition of a vertical and a horizontal black 
stripe, four inches in width, each passing through the bull's- 
eye, thus dividing the target into four parts. The writer notes 
that upon one or two occasions this black stripe, of only one 
and one-half inches in width, divided the target into four 
equal parts. The United States targets were twenty-two 
inches wide by six feet high, for distances, from one hundred 
and fifty yards up to two hundred and twenty-five, the material 
being of white cloth, or canvas, stretched upon a frame, gen- 
erally made of iron, sometimes of wood; the width of the tar- 
get, as did the width of the black stripes, increased at the 
longer ranges, one thousand yards being the extreme. Our 
range remained as it was previously, sixty yards, as the 
regular army already had the rifle that was not issued to us 
until 1865. 

The United States Government, in 1855, after satisfactory 
tests made at the Springfield arsenal, adopted the Springfield 
percussion muzzle-loading rifle, caliber fifty-eight, with the 
length of barrel at forty inches, rifled with three grooves, mak- 
ing a half turn in its length. The bullet was of lead and 
cylindro-conical in shape, with expanding base, and weighed 
five hundred grains. Sixty grains of powder was the regu- 
lation charge. This rifle, together with the bayonet, weighed 
about ten pounds. Ten years after. its adoption, or in other 
words, on February 20, 1865, the " City Guard " received its 
quota. The shooting distance was then increased to one 
hundred and fifty yards. In 1866, the following year, the 
rifles remaining in the arsenal were changed to breech- 
loaders, and the regular army furnished with them, but Cali- 
fornia did not receive any. 

The first competition for prizes between teams from the 
different companies composing the First Regiment took place 
on September 12, 1865. These teams were of three men each, 
with three shots per man. The " City Guard " carried away 
the second prize, with a score of 92.02 inches, not counting 
one miss. Company " C " took first prize, also making one 
miss. 



FORTY-ONE YEARS 1 TARGET PRACTICE. 255 

Ladies attended the State shoot of the company for the first 
time, by invitation, on November 12, 1866, also the shoots of 
1S67 and 1868, the latter being a regimental affair, held May 
Sth, at Schuetzen Park, Alameda. Upon this occasion the 
targets were, on account of limited space, close together, and 
it became necessary that pits be dug at their base for the 
accommodation of the judges; it was so arranged that the 
targets slid down into these pits to be marked and plugged. 
All marking and scoring was done on the same principles as 
before described. The width of the target was increased at 
this shoot to twenty-four inches. 

1869 found somewhat of a change, in so much that the 
company held its prize competition, the sixteenth annual, 
alone, dispensing with the usual accompaniments of brass 
band, cold collations, etc., and issuing no invitations to guests, 
the parade being solely to comply with the requirements of 
law. Thus the old custom was abandoned. The company 
continued to shoot each year regularly in accordance with 
regulations, sometimes by itself, but generally with the entire 
regiment as an organization. 

The National Guard was given the option to use either of 
the following described targets for the state shoot of 1873: 
First, that which was previously provided for, the black stripes 
being but one and one-half inches wide instead of four; or, 
second, the same size target painted black, with a four-inch 
white stripe the full length down the center, black four-inch 
bull's-eye, two feet from the top, surrounded by a white circle, 
the outside diameter of which was eighteen inches. 

The " City Guard " received its first breech-loading rifles, 
the Sharp's, 50 caliber, on June 22, 1873, which were pur- 
chased and paid for by the regiment, and was not the U. S. A. 
regulation. This rifle was shorter than the Springfield muz- 
zle-loader, the caliber, however, being the same. It was rifled 
with twice as many grooves, 6 in number, these grooves hav- 
ing a much heavier twist than that contained in the old bar- 
rel. The square-butt bullet weighed about 400 grains, while 
the charge of powder w r as heavier, from 65 to 70 grains. It is 
said that the Sharp's rifle did not give the satisfaction for 
target practice that was expected from it. The reader will not 
confound the model just referred to with the Sharp's Buchard, 
caliber 45, that many individual shooters used quite exten- 
sively in later years, and which gave ample satisfaction. 



256 THK STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

When the National Rifle Association of America was or- 
ganized in 1871, it adopted the " Hythe" system of targets, 
then used by the English. These targets were made of iron, 
painted white, the bull's-eye being square and black, and with 
a value of four points; the next larger square counted 3, the 
balance of target, 2 points. These were classed as follows: 
Class "A," for distances up to and including 300 yards, 4 feet 
wide by 6 feet high; class " B," from 300 up to and including 
600, 6x6 feet; class " C," including all distances above 600 
yards, 12 feet wide by 6 high. The bull's-eyes were 8, 22, and 
36 inches square, respectively. These targets were used, 
unofficially, in California as early as 1873, and Interstate 
matches were shot upon them, as well as other local competi- 
tions between companies and individuals; but they never 
became the regulation targets for the National Guard of this 
State. Annual shoots continued to be fired at the old style 
2x6 target. 

About the time that the California Rifle Association was 
incorporated, in June, 1875, a change was made from the 
" Hythe" target to the " Wimbleton" or " Creedmoor" system, 
as it is known in the United States, taking the name from the 
famous rifle ranges at Creedmoor, Long Island. These tar- 
gets were of the same size as the others, but the bull's-eyes and 
rings became round instead of square, also adding one extra 
ring, thus giving the bull's-eye the value of 5 points, the cen- 
ter, 4, the inner, 3, and the outer, 2 points. These targets, 
instead of being made of iron, were of canvas for a backing, 
stretched upon a frame of proper size. The " Creedmoor" 
target was the first one adopted by the California Association, 
none other being in use by them. Sizes of bull's-eyes and 
rings as follows: Class "A" target, bull's-eye, 8 inches in diame- 
ter; center, 26 inches; inner, 46 inches; outer, balance of tar- 
get. Class " B," bull's-eye, 22 inches in diameter; center, 38 
inches; inner, 54 inches; outer, 70 inches diameter; this ring 
was subsequently dropped, thus giving balance of target for 
the outer. Class "C," bull's-eye, 36 inches in diameter; cen- 
ter, 54 inches in diameter; inner was square, being 6x6 feet; 
ou^er, balance of target. The Creedmoor rules of the National 
Association were taken, which soon became generally recog- 
nized throughout California, the State adopting them later for 
the government of the N. G. C. 

The Springfield breech-loading rifle, caliber 45, was adopted 
by the Government in 1873, after the Small Arms Board had 



FORTY-ONE YEARS' TARGET PRACTICE. 257 

tested 99 samples of different designs. The "City Guard" 
received their quota during 1875. This rifle is described as 
follows: Made of low steel, caliber 45, and rifled with 3 con- 
centric grooves of equal width, with 3 lands; uniform 
twist of one complete turn in 22 inches; length of barrel, 
including receiver, 36 inches; weight, without bayonet, 8.38 
pounds: trigger adjusted to 6 and up to 8 pounds pull. 

General orders No. 8, Adjutant General's Office, Sacra- 
mento, April 24, 1876, adopts the class "A" target for our 
State troops, and the distance for the Springfield, model 1873, 
was placed at 200 yards. Men were prohibited from chang- 
ing the sights, or to put the minimum pull of trigger at les>- 
than the regulation 6 pound pull. The number o. shots w;i.- 
increased to 5, possible 25 points. 

Some shooting was done at 1,000 yards, but not with the 
Spr'ngfield. The 500 yard target was considerably used, but 
the bulk of the shooting was at the 200 yard range. The 
" City Guard " opened up its San Bruno range in 1875 with 
targe s at both 200 and 500 yards, possibly the 1,000 yard 
also. This continued to be the shooting headquarters of the 
company for quite a number of years. Monthly competitions 
were held, and many of the members participated in the reg- 
ular " meets" of the California Rifle Association, the company 
once in a while entering a team to compete for prizes; but 
they won nothing. The interest in rifle practice in the 
" City Guard " was not particularly strong at any time during 
the early periods, and it was not until later years that their 
interest improved to any great extent. The time consumed 
in going to and from San Bruno, together with the expense, 
finally closed that range some time during the early eighties. 
The company sent one man East with the famous California 
Creedmoor team that won the great International Military 
Match in 1877. This team consisted of 12 men and 3 alter- 
nates. 

No particular change was made in the shooting conditions 
for a number of years. Company and individual matches 
continued to be held, contestants firing from five, seven, and 
ten shots to the string, occasionally shooting fifty shot 
matches, and even up to one hundred shots consecutively, in 
order to test the endurance of the men. Five shots, however, 
continued to be the number allowed at the State shoots, with 
no sighters. The one thousand yard range, as also the five 



258 THE STRIKE IN CALIFORNIA. 

hundred, was discontinued some time in the eighties, the two 
hundred yard target, because this shorter range could be ob- 
tained more conveniently, receiving all the attention. In 
1885 the "City Guard" inaugurated its annual Thanksgiving 
day competitions for prizes, and it was so arranged that every 
one firing, including both life and honorary members, re- 
ceived a prize, all of which were presented at an entertain- 
ment held subsequently thereto. 

The Legislature, during its session of 1887, provided that 
decorations be awarded members of the National Guard for 
rifle practice, and that they parade for same at least once each 
year. In accordance with this law, General Order No 8, 
Adjutant General's office, Sacramento, dated September 6, 
1887, promulgated the following conditions to govern the 
issuance of these medals: That the score (for the first time) 
consist of ten shots, with no sighters. Attendance at drills, 
in order to receive a decoration, must not be less than fifty 
per cent. That each guardsman in first class, those making 
ninety per cent or more, receive a bronze medal, with the gold 
sharpshooter's clasp pendent therefrom; for the second class, 
eighty per cent and up to ninety per cent, the same style 
medal, but with the silver rifleman's clasp; for the third class, 
not less than fifty per cent and up to eighty per cent, the 
bronze marksman's clasp attached to the bronze medal. 
Members winning decorations in subsequent years, after once 
receiving the medal, were presented with the clasp or bar 
only. The law was amended in 1889, making it compulsory 
for two parades to be held for the State shoot, and that both 
count in awarding medals. In 1891 general orders raised the 
minimum percentage of the third class to sixty per cent, at 
the same time making the drill requirements sixty per cent 
also, and giving a silver medal instead of the bronze. By this 
order Brunt's Manual for Small Arms Practice was adopted. 
These are the conditions under which the National Guard of 
California shoot at the present day. 

Brunt's regulation targets, as to size, material, number of 
rings, and mode of counting, are the same as those of the 
Creedmoor system, otherwise they are not alike, the bull's-eyes 
and rings of the new being ellipses set vertically, also of 
different dimensions, viz: Class " A " target, bull's-eye, 8 x 10 
inches; center, 24 x 30; inner, 40 x 50; outer, balance of target. 
Class " B," bull's-eye, 18 x 24; center, 36x48; inner, 54x72; 



FORTY-ONE YEARS' TARGET PRACTICE. 261 

outer, balance of target. Class "C," bull's-eye, 32 x 50; center, 
51x72; inner, square of 72x72 inches; outer, balance of 
target. 

The company nas participated in a great many matches, 
particularly within the last two or three years. As a general 
thing, these matches were for glory, with a trophy occasionally 
thrown in. Some of these matches the company lost, while 
on other occasions the rooster crowed very loudly for " B." 
Here are a few of the principal events: 

On March 11, 1893, the company entered a team in the 
Midwinter Fair prize shoot for trophies. Entrance fee, 
twenty-five dollars; ten men to each team, and ten shots per 
man. The " City Guard " took third prize, an elegant one, 
with a score of four hundred and twenty-five points out of 
five hundred, an average of eighty-five per cent. 

Perhaps the greatest and most satisfactory achievement of 
" B " Company was at Sacramento, on December 17, 1893. 
Company " C " of the First Regiment shot against " F " of the 
Eighth, located at Oroville, and this company shot against 
" C " of the Eighth, of Marysville. All four organizations 
shot on the same ground, and at the same time, the targets 
adjoining. This match was for thirty men on each team, ten 
shots per man, and to be shot upon neutral ground in the 
open, man for man. To accomplish this it was necessary 
that "B" and "C " of the First, and the other two companies 
meet half way at Sacramento, which they did. "C" beat 
Oroville, scores, 1225 to 1195. " B " beat Marysville, score 
1233 to 1143, the " City Guard " coming out with the best 
score of the day, making an average of 41.1 points per man, a 
very large average for thirty men. 

As a result of the Sacramento match the company received 
a match from the famous " Carson City Guard,"of Nevada. 
This interstate match was for thirty men a side, ten shots 
per man, the watch being held on each shooter for the time 
limit. The shoot was what is termed telegraphic, and targets 
were to be exchanged by express after the firing ceased. 
Each company had its representative at the other's range. 
" B " was again victorious, beating their opponents by ten 
points, scores 1223 to 1213. This was on May 6, 1894. 

The following three matches were undoubtedly the largest 
ever shot by military companies anywhere in the United 
States or elsewhere. They were shot man for man, under the 



262 THE STRIKE ]N CALIFORNIA. 

existing rules, at two hundred yards, with ten shots for each 
competitor, making the possible number of points 2,500. It 
will be noted that two of these matches were shot upon B 
company's opponents' ranges, both of which being strange to 
the members of this company. 

On December 2, 1894, at Schuetzen Park, San Rafael, with 
D Company, Fifth Infantry, N. G. C, B wins by five points. 
Scores: B, 1,846, or an average per man of 36.92 points. D 
making 1,841, an average of 36.82. 

Both companies having strengthened their teams, a return 
match was made for May 5, 1895, this time at B's headquar- 
ters, Shell Mound Rifle Range. B again wins by fifty-three 
points. Scores: B, 1,951 points, an average per man of 39.02 
points, D making 1,898, an average of 37.96. Each com- 
pany made a marked improvement over the previous match. 

On May 19, 1895, this company shot another fifty-man 
match this time with C company, Eighth Infantry, N. G. C, 
upon their own range at Marysville, Cal., B journeying there 
for that purpose. This time B lost. Scores: B, 1,907 points, 
an average of 38.14 per man; their opponents making 1,982, 
an average of 39.64. The score made by C company was an 
elegant one, and the members are deserving of a great deal 
of praise for their splendid shooting. 

The " Tobin Trophy " was presented to the First Regiment 
by the relatives of Colonel Robert Tobin, of the Third, in 
1890, after his death, the regiment having performed the 
escort duty at the funeral. This trophy is a permanent affair 
for competition every year by teams selected from each com- 
pany. For the first five years these teams consisted of twenty 
men each; but in 1895 they were increased to twenty-five 
men. B's record is as follows: Possible points, 1,000. In 

1890, the company made 784, average, per man, 39.20. In 

1891, 707; average, 35.35. In 1892, 766; average 38.3, 
In 1893, 787; average, 39.35. In 1894, 824; average, 41.20. 
In 1895, for twenty-five men, possible number of points 1,250, 
the company made 1,032, an average of 41.30 points to the 
man. In these shoots for the trophy the City Guard took 
second place, with the exception of the years 1891 and 1892, 
then falling to third place. The trophy competition was at 
the 200 yard range 

The members of B company have received the following 
State decorations since the system was adopted, as previously 



FORTY-ONE YEARS' TARGET PRACTICE 263 

noted, in 1887. For the year 1887: gold bars, 0; silver, 3; 
bronze, 11. Total, 14. In 1888: gold, 0; silver, 7; bronze, 9. 
Total, 16. In 1889: gold, 1; silver, 6; bronze, 19. Total, 26. 
In 1890: gold, 1; silver, 11; bronze, 14. Total, 26. In 1891: 
gold, 0; silver, 5; bronze, 14. Total, 19. In 1892: gold, 0; 
silver, 4; bronze, 16. Total, 20. In 1893: gold, 1; silver, 11; 
bronze, 20. Total, 32. In 1894: gold, 1; silver, 16; bronze, 
23. Total, 40. 

The City Guard originally set the pace in the matter of 
shooting rifle matches with teams composed of fifty men from 
a company. It is a recognized fact that a soldier should know 
how to shoot, and, in order to encourage the members, some 
inducements must be given. What is better than placing them 
in a large shooting team? Any member of a company 
will strive very hard indeed to win a place on such a team, 
especially if he thinks there is any possible show for him, 
while otherwise he would be rather lukewarm if simply com- 
peting for a personal decoration. Hence the desirability of 
large team shooting. The better shots will always take care 
of themselves; foster the poorer ones by interesting them in 
their art, and they will, in their turn, take care of themselves. 

It has been, particularly for the past two or three years, 
the determined policy of this company to steadily increase the 
shooting efficiency of its members. Not only have the better 
shots received their proper attention, but the poorer ones have 
been encouraged, and, under the fostering care and instruction 
freely given them, they have gradually improved in their 
marksmanship; many of them now rank among the best shots 
of the compauy. In closing this chapter the writer predicts 
a brilliant future for the City Guard in rifle practice, and with 
proper care, attention, and enthusiasm, the "old company" 
will yet be the peer of them all. 



